2 Prison Officers Charged With Aiding Convict's Escape

Thursday November 11, 2010
By Stephen Kwabena Effah

The two interdicted prison officers, from whose custody a convict escaped at an Accra High Court, were yesterday granted GH 10,000 bail each with two sureties, when they were arraigned at the Accra Regional Tribunal.

Assistant Chief Officer Godfred Asah, 52 and Corporal Nana Appiah-Kubi, 37, who have pleaded not guilty to aiding escape, were given bail following a submission by their counsel, Alexander Abam to admit them to bail.

They are to appear again on November 16.

Prosecuting DSP E.Y Frimpong, told the court that the two officers are stationed at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons and on October 27, they took the escapee, 41-year old Yaw Asamoah to an Accra High Court.

He said Asamoah until his escape, was serving a 20-year sentence at the Nsawam Prisons for armed robbery, and was taken to the Accra High Court where he escaped for another rape and murder case.

He had pleaded guilty for murdering a pastor of the Light House Chapel during an armed robbery operation late last year and was appearing for a judgement in the case.

Narrating the circumstance surrounding the escape, DSP Frimpong told the Tribunal that the two officers arrived at the court at 8:00am when the court was in session.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons (the officers) removed the handcuffs of the convict without a guard, and left the courtroom to engage in a telephone conversation.

“Convict took advantage of the unprofessional conduct of the accused persons and escaped without notice,” he told the Tribunal adding that information reached the Accra Regional Police Command which visited the scene to confirm the incident.

He said after investigations, the accused persons were released for prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Prison Service has posted a reward of GH¢1,000 for the capture of Asamoah.

Asamoah, a trader is said to be about 5ft, 3 inches tall, dark-brown in complexion and speaks Twi, Ga and English. He hails from Mpraeso-Kwahu in the Eastern Region and has a round face with multiple scars.