Accra, Jan.31, GNA – Bachir Aminuo, a passenger, who was arrested with 656 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) debit cards last year at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has gone to the High Court to seek bail.
The High Court, presided over by Mrs Justice Lydia Osei, has adjourned the matter to February 28.
Lawyer for the accused and an Attorney of the State went to chambers when the matter was called.
On their return from chambers, the court ruled that “by reasons of new development from prosecution, which for security reasons cannot be disclosed in public but made know to counsel for applicant in camera, this application cannot be heard until investigations by the Republic into the alleged activities of the applicant is completed.”
The Circuit Court had on a few occasions declined bail to the accused.
Police investigations revealed that 656 ATM debit cards bearing different names issued by eight Nigerian banks and one Ghanaian bank respectively, were found on him.
Aminuo, a Nigerien, charged with Electronic Trafficking and Stealing, has pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution had vehemently opposed to the grant of bail, saying Aminuo was flight-risk, and had no fixed place of abode.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fuseini Yakubu said considering the seriousness and the severity of the punishment if found guilty by the court, the accused would not appear to stand trial when granted bail.
He, therefore, prayed the court to remand him into police custody in furtherance of investigations.
The accused’s lawyer prayed the court to admit his client to bail, arguing he had been in custody for 12 days.
According to the defence counsel, the accused’s fundamental human rights had been breached in view of the number of days the Police had kept him.
The Circuit Court, after listening to defence counsel and prosecution, upheld the prayer of the prosecution.
The prosecution, led by ASP Yakubu, said Aminuo was arrested at KIA for possessing 656 ATM debit cards bearing different names.
During interrogation, the prosecution said the accused stated that the ATM cards were given to him by one Rabiu Suleiman based in Kano state, Nigeria, to be given to one Baffa Bawarije, a Nigerian based in Daira Night City Hotel, Dubai.
ASP Yakubu said preliminary investigations revealed that on September 12, last year, the accused was arrested while boarding Ethiopia Airline E.T90 en route to Dubai.
It said when the accused was searched, 656 ATM debit cards bearing different names were issued by eight Nigerian banks and one Ghanaian Bank respectively.
The accused also had on him $12,000.
ASP Yakubu said further investigations showed that the accused first visited Ghana on April 29, last year, through Aflao boarder and departed to Dubai on May 26, last year.
“The accused’s second visit to Ghana was on August 20, last year and was arrested the day of his departure to Dubai,” the prosecution told the court.
GNA