Coronavirus: Nigerian arrested for illegally taking blood samples of pregnant women pleads not guilty
A 34-year-old Nigerian who was arrested for allegedly defying government’s restriction order by going out to illegally draw blood samples of pregnant women and other residents at Gbese, a suburb of James Town has pleaded not guilty to charges against him.
The accused person, Chukwuka James, has been charged with the offence of “failure to comply with the restriction order” during the coronavirus outbreak.
He pleaded not guilty to the offence on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
According to the suspect, it was not intentional that he came out of his residence on that day.
He has, therefore, been remanded to re-appear on April, 30, 2020 by the Accra Circuit Court presided over by Afia Owusuwaa Appiah.
The Prosecution, led by Police Chief Inspector Gulliver Tenkorang, told the court that at the time of the arrest, the suspect was in possession of medical equipment.
Chief Inspector Tenkorang told the court that certain amendments needed to be added to the facts would be done within one week. He subsequently prayed the court to remand the suspect.
The court, while remanding the suspect to re-appear, ordered prosecution to file their disclosures before the next court date, Starr FM reported.
More than 400 arrested for flouting lockdown directive
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has announced that it has arrested a total of 406 recalcitrant people who failed to adhere to the restriction law imposed during the lockdown period.
It also said 103 persons are currently in police custody across the country while 248 have been granted bail pending further investigation and 41 have been processed for court.
More than 400 arrested for flouting lockdown directive – ACP Donkor
According to the police, the said persons were caught in clear violation of the Imposition of Restriction Act.
Briefing the press on developments so far, the Director, Legal and Prosecution of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Lydia Donkor, said the recalcitrant people would be dealt with.
She disclosed that Greater Accra had the highest number of arrests with 161 reported cases.