The 21 alleged Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) activists facing trial before the Ho Circuit Court for unlawful assembly broke down and wept uncontrollably yesterday when the court again denied them bail.
This time, the court, presided over by Mr Felix Datsomor, remanded them in prison custody to appear again on June 16.
The accused first appeared before the circuit court, on May 21, and were remanded in police custody.
Subsequently, they applied for bail at Ho High Court, but the court, presided over by My George Buadi last Tuesday rejected the bail application, after Senior State Attorney, Mr Moses Asampoa argued that the matter was still under investigations and that the accused persons may interfere in investigations if granted bail.
The Senior State Attorney maintained that the accused were advocating and promoting same gender sexual activities, and that was against the laws of the state.
The court heard that 204 male and female condoms, sex lubricants and books on LGBTQI were found with the accused.
Some of the books retrieved from them were titled, All about Intersex (23 copies); All about Trans (19 copies) Gender Acronyms (28 copies); The LGTB+ Muslim (18 copies) and Hate Crime (21 copies)
They also included My Child My Love Always (20 copies); Key Watch (49 copies) and Coming Out (20 copies) which actually encourages LGTBI people to come out boldly with their sexual orientation.
Four cellular phones, four laptop computers, and LGTBI banners and flip charts were also retrieved by the police.
At yesterday’s sitting, although the prosecution did not oppose bail for the accused, the circuit court explained that the accused 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, the accused put on their hoods over their heads to avoid the media cameras catching their faces.
FROM ALBERTO MARIO NORETTI, HO
