Manfo Kwaku Asiedu
Manfo Kwaku Asiedu (Arabic: مانفو كواكو أسيدو) is a Ghanaian-born man who was convicted for his role in the 21 July 2005 attempted London bombings. Some sources suggest the drifter's real name is George Nanak Marquaye, as that was the name on the passport which he used when entering the country, or Sumaila Abubakari.[1]
He was raised in Ghana and educated to the equivalent of A-level standard. He entered Britain on a flight from Ghana in late 2003.[2]
He was charged on 7 August 2005, with conspiracy to murder and conspiring to cause an explosion.[3] After an unexploded bomb was found in Little Wormwood Scrubs park, Asiedu turned himself into police. During the trial, he testified against the other five defendants.[4] The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charge of conspiracy to murder, but rather than face a retrial, Asiedu agreed to plead guilty on the lesser charge of conspiracy to cause an explosion. On 20 November 2007, he was sentenced to jail for 33 years and the judge also recommended that Asiedu be deported back to Ghana upon release.[5]
At 32, Asiedu was the oldest of those suspected, and was said to have no permanent address at the time of the alleged crime.
There was initial confusion that Manfo was the son of Ghana's Deputy Inspector-General of Police, K.K. Asiedu, but his son was later tracked down and absolved.[6]
He is held at the Belmarsh prison, and his first court appearance was 8 August 2005. He speaks the Twi language of Ghana and requires an interpreter in court.[7]
References
- ↑ "'Bomb plot' trial: The four plotters". 9 July 2007 – via bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Profile: Manfo Kwaku Asiedu". 9 November 2007 – via bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Trio charged over 21 July attacks". BBC News. 7 August 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "Collusion claim over London bomb plots".
- ↑ "Fifth 21/7 London bomber jailed". 20 November 2007 – via bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Reassessing the July 21 London Bombings". 13 November 2005.
- ↑ "News".