The Adjabeng magistrate court in Accra yesterday once again adjourned hearing of the case involving the 10 pirates suspected to have hijacked M.T. Mariam oil tanker in Nigeria.
This follows another disclosure by the prosecution that the advice from the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) Department was still not ready.
According to Chief Inspector Alhassan Ayisha, the prosecution was still waiting for the advice from the A-G’s outfit.
This compelled the trial magistrate, Efua Gyetowah Sackey, to adjourn sitting until May 12, 2015.
She said the court could only hope the advice would be ready by the said date.
The accused persons are George Opata Okrah, freight forwarder; Joel Yaw Attah, shipping agent; Molih Williams; Molih Klinsman; Peggy Aki; Ebiyaibo Amos; David Jacobs; Ayetimili Onyile; Pinano Saniyo and Picolo John – all unemployed.
They are each facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and piracy.
The prosecution avers that the accused persons on January 17, 2015 at Tema, near Accra, by force of arms seized the said commercial marine vessel flying the flag of Nigeria under the charge of one Captain Chris Ohuoha.
The accused persons are said to have seized the vessel loaded with 1,500 metric tonnes of Low Petroleum Fuel Oil (LPFO) worth 45 million Naira (US$217,912) or (GH¢762,692) when the accused persons, armed with three AK 47 assault rifles, one pump action gun and a K2 assault rifle, attacked the vessel and took the nine-member crew on board the vessel hostage and subjected them to various degrees of inhuman treatment, including assault with butts of the weapons, restricted their movements, and prevented them from communicating to themselves.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons forced the “captured” Captain to pilot the vessel to a position “convenient” to them; and stole the oil onto another vessel marked M.T. INVICTUS,while Attah and Mikeafter stealing the oil, joined the vessel with the oil and sped off.
By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
jeffdegraft44@yahoo.com
Via: -Daily Guide
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