Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has formally petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to transfer the criminal case stemming from the recent shooting incident in Kwabenya from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court.
The petition, dated June 25, was filed through her legal representatives, who argue that the Circuit Court lacks the legal authority to hear the case because the principal charge is a first-degree felony, an offence that is triable only on indictment before the High Court.
The case follows the June 21 shooting incident that left the former legislator with injuries while she was at the residence of her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, amid an ongoing family and leadership dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission. According to her lawyers, Adwoa Safo sustained injuries to her face, jaw, ear and the back of her head, with medical examinations reportedly indicating that bullet fragments remain lodged in her skull. Her vehicle also sustained gunshot damage during the incident.
Several individuals, including her brother and others, have since been charged with offences including the use of offensive weapons, possession of firearms and explosives, participation in vigilante activities, discharge of firearms in a public place and causing unlawful damage. The accused persons have been granted bail of GH¢500,000 each with two sureties.
In the petition, Adwoa Safo's lawyers maintain that because the alleged offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with an offensive weapon constitutes a first-degree felony, the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction not only to try the case but also to entertain bail applications.
They are therefore asking the Attorney-General to call for the police docket, review the matter and refile it before the High Court to ensure what they describe as a lawful and expeditious trial.
The latest legal move adds another layer to a case that has attracted national attention following the shooting and the ongoing succession dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
