Trial Of Haleem Banda Ends

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 26 October 2007
THE trial of Haleem Banda, son of business magnate Asuma Banda, charged with threat of death, ended on Thursday at an Accra Fast Track High Court.

The court, presided over by Justice B. T. Aryeetey of the Court of Appeal, ordered both the defence and the prosecution to file their addresses by November 7, after which the court will fix a date for judgement.

Haleem is being tried for threatening to kill Kofi Otchere-Darko, popularly called K.O.D., a radio presenter and his friend Emmanuel Kiki Banson, at an Accra night club on June 12.

Haleem, according to the prosecution, threatened to kill the complainants and fired three gun shots after which he sped off at a night club called "The Office" in Cantonments, Accra.

He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of threat of death and possession of arms and ammunition without lawful authority and has been in police custody since the incident.

The prosecution called seven witnesses while Haleem brought two including Kofi Assuman, a proprietor and travel and tour operator.

Led in evidence by Mr. Addo Attuah, defence counsel, Mr. Assuman yesterday told the court that he was with Haleem at the club when the accused noticed that Banson was chatting with his (Haleem’s) girlfriend.

He said Haleem then attempted to pull the girl away from Banson but he (Banson) pushed the accused aside.

The witness said a heated argument then ensued between the two men and at that moment he heard Otchere-Darko saying on the microphone, "We are not here to fight. We are here to make fun".

"I did not hear threats of death from Haleem. I also did not see him pull a gun," Mr. Assuman said.

He told the court that Banson and Otchere-Darko then left the club and were later followed by Haleem. "I did not go out with them. I stayed inside the room. But when I came out later, I heard that Banson and Haleem fought."

Assuman admitted that Haleem gave him a pump action gun for safekeeping before the incident and said after the incident he handed it over to the police.

Under cross-examination by Mrs. Stella Badu, Principal State Attorney, witness told the court that he was not at the scene of the shooting and he was not aware of any grudge between Haleem and Banson before the incident.

He said when he sent the gun to the police, he did not personally write a statement. It was written by the police and he signed.

Ms Lyela Ghanem, a student, who said she was at the scene of the incident, also gave evidence.

She told the court that she did not personally know Haleem but knew Otchere-Darko as a popular radio presenter.

She said on that day, she was outside the office when Haleem and Banson came out arguing while Otchere-Darko attempted to separate the two.

"All of a sudden, I saw the two fighting and falling in the process."

She also said that she did not hear any gunshots but saw Haleem sped off in his car after the incident.

Since then, she said, she had not seen Haleem.