21 LGBTQI activists weep after consistent bail denial.
The 21 alleged Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) activists, facing trial for unlawful assembly, broke down and wept uncontrollably on Tuesday when the Ho Circuit Court again denied them bail.
This time, the court presided over by Mr Felix Datsomor, remanded them in prison custody to re-appear on June 16.
The accused were first remanded in police custody on May 21 by the same court.
Subsequently, they applied for bail at Ho High Court, but the court, presided over by Mr George Buadi, last Tuesday rejected the bail application, after Senior State Attorney, Mr Moses Asampoa, argued that accused may interfere in investigations if granted bail.
Mr Asampoa said that accused were advocating and promoting same gender sexual activities, which was against the country’s laws.
The court heard that the police retrieved from accused 204 male and female condoms, sex lubricants, books on LGBTQI, four cellular phones, four laptop computers, LGTBI banners and flip charts.
At yesterday’s sitting, although the prosecution did not oppose bail for accused, the circuit court explained that their application for bail was earlier turned down by a High Court and that they could make a fresh application for bail before the High Court.
As they were escorted to waiting police vehicles, accused put their hoods over their heads to avoid cameras catching their faces.
Humans and flashy vehicles competed for space in the forecourt of the Judicial Service building yesterday as an unusually large crowed turned up for the hearing and to catch a glimpse of accused.
Source: www.spotonnews.net
