Abu Trica rearrested moments after discharge as state withdraws charges

Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica (also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng), was rearrested by officials of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) shortly after being discharged by a court on Monday.

The dramatic rearrest occurred in the corridors of the High Court, just as Abu Trica was speaking with his lawyers and family following the conclusion of proceedings.

Earlier the same day, the Gbese District Court had discharged Abu Trica and two alleged accomplices, Lord Eshun and Bernard Aidoo, after the State withdrew charges of defrauding by false pretenses and money laundering. The trio had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the High Court, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem Sai informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of withdrawal of the charges against the three accused persons. This rendered pending applications for their discharge moot.

Lawyers for Abu Trica and Bernard Aidoo had filed separate applications seeking their clients’ release while the matter remained before the District Court.

Oliver Barker-Vormawor, counsel for one of the applicants, argued that the issues raised in the applications could recur and therefore the matter should not be considered moot.

However, the Deputy Attorney-General countered that the withdrawal had fundamentally changed the facts of the case, leaving no basis for the applications to proceed.

The presiding judge subsequently struck out the applications.

Abu Trica, wanted in the United States for alleged wire fraud and romance scams, was taken back into custody by NACOC officials immediately after the High Court proceedings ended.