A 59-year-old businessman has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly threatening a police officer with a loaded pistol at the court premises.
Seth Welbeck has been charged with threat of death and unlawful possession of a firearm, namely a Smith and Wesson SD9 VE pistol.
Welbeck pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court, presided over by Joojo Amoah, admitted Welbeck to bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 on two sureties, to be justified by landed property, and adjourned the case to March 3, 2026.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Nego Dzigbordi, told the court that the complainant was Detective Chief Inspector Prince Okoh of the Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Accra.
The prosecutor said Welbeck, a resident of Accra, was earlier under investigation for alleged forgery of judicial or official documents and was served with a criminal summons to appear before Circuit Court Three on February 3, 2026.
Welbeck was granted bail in that case in the sum of GH¢200,000, with two sureties, and the sureties were to be justified by landed property.
According to the prosecution, while Welbeck was being escorted to the Regional CID in Accra, he requested permission to lock his vehicle parked on the court premises.
The complainant, together with Chief Inspector Margaret Nando, a Court Warrant Officer, escorted Welbeck to the vehicle.
The prosecutor said Welbeck opened the vehicle and suddenly picked up his Smith and Wesson SD9 VE pistol, bearing serial number FYS4759, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, and pointed it at the complainant.
Detective Chief Inspector Okoh swiftly struck Welbeck’s hand, causing the pistol to fall to the ground.
One Michael Obeng Ntim, who witnessed the incident, assisted the complainant, and Welbeck was restrained, handcuffed, and escorted to the Regional CID in Accra, where a report was lodged.
