Some residents and Civil Society groups in the Tamale metropolis in the Northern Region on Wednesday expressed worry about the speed and quick manner in which the police granted bail to Helena Huang, a Chinese woman who attempted to transport Rosewood out of the region.
On Tuesday the police in the Northern Region apprehended the Chinese woman at one of the check-points when she attempted to transport Rosewoods out of town.
However, the Regional Police Command immediately after briefing the media about the arrest of the Chinese woman granted her police inquiry bail.
This action of the police did go down well with some residents in the metropolis and have called for her immediate re-arrest.
At a press conference organised by a coalition of Civil Society groups called Baobab Market urged the Regional Police Command to re-arrest the woman.
The press statement which was read on behalf of convener, Mr Suwuro Abdulai said the quick manner the police granted the suspect bail was disturbing.
They could not understand why foreigners who commit crimes in the country would be granted police inquiry bail.
They lamented that the way and manner the Chinese woman was granted bail could embolden more foreigners to commit more grievous crimes.
The group, therefore, called on the police and for that matter government to re-arrest the Chinese woman and put her before court.
“The government must swiftly process Helena Huang for court as nobody was above the laws of the land,” they stated.
The group argued that processing the Chinese woman for court in the country would serve as a strong deterrent to others.
They also appealed that pressure be put on the police and government to ensure that the suspect is brought to book.
The group vowed to continue to put pressure on the police and government to ensure the lady is made to face the law.
“We wish to state that we the Baobab Market would not rest until the suspect is re-arrested and put before court,” they stated.
The group also called on the chiefs in the area to assist enforce the ban on felling of trees in the region.
FROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE
