A 40 year old tile setter today has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court for literally insulting Nana Akufo Addo.
The Police on May 15 saw a video posted on social media and apprehended the individual in the content, Raphael Okoe Ankrah, also known as Okoe Killer whom the Police accused of insulting the President.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong told the Court that Ankrah was arrested following the Police citing his video which circulated online which has annoyed and agitated the public because he rained insults on the President.
Following efforts from the Police, the offender was tracked by the Police Intelligence Directorate and arrested in Jamestown, Accra. Upon arrest, he admitted to the offence and was charged accordingly.
Raphael was arraigned before court today and he has been remanded into Police Custody till 30th May, 2023 when the case shall be resumed for hearing by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah.
The Defendant’s Counsel Mr Yaw Dankwa, prayed that the Honourable Court could grant his client bail after he said the charge did not support the facts and that, his client denied the ‘political charge’ upon arrest.
He also suggested to the court that the video in question should be presented and scrutinized in court as it could be doctored and until it is brought before court for scrutiny, his client was innocent of the charges.
In convincing the Court for the bail to be granted, he said Raphael is a “responsible father” with a wife who has a two-week baby, was not a flight risk.And that the accused had people of substance to stand surety for him.
The prosecution, however opposed the bail, and pleaded with the Court that the offender be sent to the Psychiatric hospital as he told them he wasn’t in the right frame of mind.
Rebutting his Counsel’s claim that the accused was not a flight risk, the prosecution said Raphael is a squatter in an uncompleted building and has no permanent residence but his lawyer insisted there were no incompleted building in Jamestown.
ASP Oppong told the court it will be safer for the accused to be remanded in Police Custody as his life was in danger based on the vile utterance he made in the video.