An accused person in a theft case is reported to have created a scene at a Kumasi Circuit Court when he refused to be taken into remand custody after his case was adjourned to next week.
A Ghanaian Times report says, the accused, Kwadjo Antwi took a firm grip of the dock and refused to leave the courtroom demanding that the case be heard and disposed of immediately.
Antwi’s refusal to leave the dock was due to the fact that he had been in remand custody for the past three years and according to him, he could no longer withstand the dehumanising conditions in police cell.
“ I can no more sleep with about 70 inmates in one room,” he said as he fiercely resisted every attempt by the Police to send him back to remand. The tribunal Chairman, Vincent Senu moved by Antwi’s pleas, asked that he be brought back for trial.
Antwi, the paper said changed his plea from Not Guilty to Guilty. He was consequently sentenced to nine months imprisonment. Antwi jubilated at the sentence exclaiming, “ Ah, I have wasted precious years in remand.” He was said to be involved in the robbery of a large quantity of car tyres in 1997.
In another development, a 26 year old, Ato Arkoh was sentenced by an Apam Circuit Court to nine years’ imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a 13-year-old boy.
Arkoh who pleaded guilty to the charge blamed his conduct on the devil. Chief Inspector Richard Doku told the court that last Tuesday, April 3, Arkoh who leaves in the same house with the victim and his parents, sneaked into the room of the boy and sexually abused him whilst he was asleep.
A fisherman, Yaw Kum who was on his way to sea, chanced on Arkoh in the act. Yaw Kum then reported the incident to the boy’s father who went into the boy’s room and saw Arkoh in the act.
The accused begged for forgiveness but the boy’s father reported him to the police and he was arrested.
Source: GhanaWeb
