GRi In Court 26-02-99

Accra, (Greater Accra) 25 Feb.  

An Accra circuit tribunal Thursday ordered investigations into allegations by an accused that six soldiers arrested him and three others and beat two of them to death.

The judge said if the allegations are found to be true, the culprits should be brought to book.

The order was made following allegations made by Tijani Mohammed, an accused charged with stealing from Meji Forex Bureau near the El-Wak Stadium. Mohammed, on trial with two others for conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing, told the tribunal that six soldiers arrested him and the others, sent them to a bush and beat them up until the two died. The soldiers then claimed that the two who died were at large, he added. Mohammed named one of the two as Sani, the third accused in the case. He said he did not know the name of the other one.

The tribunal, chaired by Mrs Anderson Yeboah, ordered: " We think this allegation needs to be investigated and, if it is true, the soldiers must be brought to book. "We ask that the incident be brought to the attention of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for possible redress. The prosecution in the case confirms that the accused were arrested by soldiers who later handed them to the Cantonments Police".

The tribunal ordered further that its Registrar must serve the DPP with the court's proceedings.

Those on trial with Mohammed are Eze Eze, trader, and Mutari, who is at large. The two accused have pleaded not guilty and are each on a 10 million-cedi bail with one surety to re-appear on March 23. The case for the prosecution is that, on October 10, last year, Mr Osei Yaw, owner of Meji Forex Bureau, found that thieves had broken into his office and taken away 16,000 dollars, nine million cedis, and a bag.

Upon a tip-off, the soldiers arrested the accused persons and others, beat them and later handed them to the Cantonments Police.

Tema, (Greater Accra) 25 Feb.

The Tema Circuit Tribunal was yesterday besieged by a large crowd of people anxious to catch a glimpse of a man who defiled an eleven-year-old girl at Ashaiman, crippling her as a result.

Seth Zentah, an apprentice tailor, pleaded guilty with explanation and was subsequently sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the panel chairman, Mr R.C. Azumah, on his own plea.

The victim was admitted at the Tema General Hospital for 25 days starting from December 25, 1998, and discharged but she was re-admitted yesterday due to the seriousness of her condition.

A medical report signed by Dr B.K. Forkuoh, a gynaecologist, stated that the victim suffered pelvic deformation as a result of sexual assault. It said the girl can neither walk nor lie down due to over-stretching of the hip.

Mr Michael Yirenkyi, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the tribunal that on December 25, 1998, at Ashaiman, the victim was sent by her aunt to sell some doughnuts. On her return home at about 6.30 p.m., the accused invited her to buy some of the doughnuts. He indicated that he wanted to buy all the doughnuts but requested the victim to buy him some iced water.

On her return, she noticed that the accused had taken the doughnuts into his room and asked her to follow him to collect her money. Thereafter, he placed her on the bed, tied her two legs widely open to some points, covered her mouth with a rag and forcibly and indecently assaulted her.

ASP Yirenkyi said the accused did the act twice with the girl struggling with him. After that, he warned her never to disclose it to anybody else she would die.

At home, the victim never told her aunt but her uneasiness betrayed her and, upon pressure, she revealed the incident to her aunt who accompanied her to the accused house and pointed him out.