A Sekondi High Court on Monday, granted Paa Kwesi Simpson, a radio presenter of Connect FM radio station, in Takoradi, a GH₵50,000 bail with two sureties to be justified.
The court, presided over by Justice Dr Richmond Osei Hwere, also ordered Simpson to report to the police once a week, to help in investigations.
Earlier last Thursday, Simpson and one other person, appeared before the Takoradi Harbour Circuit Court ‘A’, charged with the publication of fake kidnapping story, involving Stephanie Kumiwaa, 26, from Mpohor in the Western Region, on October 17, this year.
Simpson, and Stephen Kumi, 33, pleaded not guilty to the charges of publication of false news intended to cause fear and alarm and false communication and were denied bail and remanded in police custody to appear again on November 16.
Simpson was earlier on a police enquiry bail after his arrest last Tuesday.
Counsel for the accused, Ebo Donkor and Calista Tetteh, argued that Simpson was responsible, well- known and had a specified abode and would show up any time in court.
But, the prosecutor, Superintendent Emmanuel Basintale Amadu, told the court presided over by Mr Micheal Ampadu that, his posture as a well-known presenter, may interfere with further investigations.
He, therefore, prayed the court to quash the bail application.
In refusing the bail application, Mr Ampadu noted that, the first accused could “distract” investigation.
A release signed by the Western Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, said Paa Kwesi Simpson was arrested by the Takoradi Police Divisional Command, for allegedly publishing a fake kidnapping story involving Stephanie Kumiwaa, 26, from Mpohor in the Western Region, on October 17, this year.
However, checks at the Mpohor Police District Command indicated that no such case had been reported, it added.
DSP Adiku said based on the publication, the police arrested the alleged boyfriend of the victim, Stephen Kumi, 33 and Paa Kwesi Simpson, who published the story, to assist the police in their investigations.
The statement said on October 17, Stephanie called Kumi to inform him that, she would visit him, but, did not show up.
However, on October 19, he(Kumi) received a call from a friend of Stephanie, that someone called on her phone number that, she,(Stephanie) had been kidnapped and the suspected kidnappers were demanding a ransom of GH₵2,000.
Police escorted Kumi to Mpohor and all efforts to locate the residence, family relations of Stephanie and Sandra, the friend, for confirmation of the alleged incident, proved futile, the statement said.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, SEKONDI
