Are We Living In A Jungle? – Sosu On Re-arrest of New Force Spokesperson
The Counsel for the spokesperson of the New Force, Shalimar Abbiusi, Francis Xavier Sosu has registered his displeasure at the re-arrest of his client after charges against her were dropped.
The Belgian appeared in some videos on social media being whisked into the Immigration Service van after the court proceedings on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Her counsel appeared to oppose the action of the officers which came as a surprise to the foreigner, her parents and lawyers at the scene, according to the video.
Speaking to the press, Sosu said the Immigration Service told the courts her residential permit had been revoked but failed to prove it before the court and therefore had no right to re-arrest her.
He criticized the mode in which Shalimar was taken as unlike a democratic country.
“You came to the court and asked that the charge be dropped. The charges are dropped and the person {accused} is discharged and then you banded her like a common criminal…What kind of international disgrace is this? Are we living in a democracy or a jungle?
“I’m sincerely disappointed. The immigration officers came and said her permit has been revoked. If her permit has been revoked, where is the evidence? You should have brought it to the court and showed it to everybody… so you can take her but you banded the person as if she is a common criminal.”
He posits that the action of the country is not in the best interest of Ghanaian expatriates.
“This is sending the wrong signal to international countries.”
Background
The 30-year-old was arrested by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) after she was invited in for investigations on December 4. 2023.
According to a statement issued by the New Force, the NIB during her days in their custody tried to squeeze out of her, information about the Force and in the process infringed on some of her fundamental rights.
“As we have now found out, for the past 4 days, Ms Abbiusi has been kept continuously in custody by the officers of the National Investigations Bureau, formerly the BNI. During these 4 days, the security officials have continuously questioned Ms Abbiusi about the New Force; wanting to know which people are behind it and if the people want to run for President.
The political movement which is only known by billboards asserts that the government is only leveraging on the immigration status of Shalimar to clamp down on its growing influence in the country.
She was accused of violating section 52 (1) (i) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573), specifically “Obtaining for Yourself a Student Permit by False Declaration” but has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
She was granted bail on December 11, 2023.
