Prampram Mankralo allegedly assaults Queen mother
Thirteen Ablekuma murder suspects refused bail
Prampram Mankralo allegedly assaults Queen mother
Prampram (Greater Accra) 2 Feb. 2000
Nene Atsure Benta III, Mankralo of Prampram and two others are to be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting and causing bodily harm to the Queen Mother of the Traditional Area.
Nene Atsure Benta, Nii Nartey IV, Setse (Stool father) and Madam Narteki Nartey, a trader are alleged to have brutally assaulted Naa Gyebi, Asafoanye of Prampram and an ex-wife of the Mankralo on January 13.
A Prampram Police source, that confirmed the incident to newsmen, denied that the Police were dragging their feet on the case.
He said the suspects would be put before a Tema Circuit Tribunal on Thursday 3 February.
The suspects are said to have pounced on Naa Gyebi and assaulted her in the presence of a Policeman detailed to arrest her following a report made against her by the Mankralo and some people.
Naa Gyebi alleged that the incident was as a result of a dispute over the sale of her lands and her decision to be neutral in the Prampram Chieftaincy dispute after it had been decided that the matter should be settled out of court.
She said since then, "I have been persistently harassed by the Mankralo and his cohorts and also wrongly accused of flirting with the Paramount Chief Nene Tetteh Djan III and serving as his informant".
Naa Gyebi said things came to a head on 13 January when Nii Nartey also known as Nartey Odonkor in the company of Nene Benta hit her with a club at the back of her neck, which made her "semi-unconscious".
When she regained consciousness after inhaling a strong concoction, which smelt like urine, she realised that her assailants were dragging her on the floor.
She said the Mankralo held her neck and tried to strangle her wounding her in the process.
Naa Gyebi said she was sent to the Police station for a crime, which was not explained to her and later referred to the health centre but Nene Benta ordered that she must be sent back to the Police cells.
GRi../
Thirteen Ablekuma murder suspects refused bail
Accra (Greater Accra) 2 Feb. 2000
An Accra Regional Tribunal on Tuesday refused bail for 13 out of the 20 persons accused of murdering two policemen at Ablekuma in Accra, in November, 1998.
Seven others were granted bail on January 18 by the same tribunal.
The tribunal chaired by Mr Justice Isaac Duose said that it would be dangerous to set them free on bail.
Counsel for the accused persons, Mr Ahumah Ocansey had earlier argued the application for bail for his clients who are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder of two policemen.
Counsel submitted that it is against the fundamental human rights of his clients to be kept in custody without being told when they would be tried.
The tribunal ruled, "If within 30 days from today, the trial does not begin, applicants should repeat their application for bail."
The accused persons first appeared before a community tribunal on 24 November 1998, for allegedly having a hand in the murder of Constables Jerry Wornu and Richard Owusu Sekyere of the Striking Force.
Those refused bail are Samuel Tetteh Nettey, Emmanuel Akai Nettey, Lawrence Nakai Nettey, Blessing Okailey Nettey, Newland Awayewu and Wisdom Awayewu.
The rest are Nii Amoo Dodoo, John Odabai Quaye, Okyeame Darko Dodoo, Daniel Mills, Seth Ababio, Misiku Amega and Yemo Odoe.
Hearing continues on Tuesday, February eight.
GRi../