Court fines drinking bar operator for causing harm

Kuntanase (Ash), Sept 23, GNA - The Kuntanase magistrate court on Thursday fined a 28-year-old drinking bar operator two million cedis for damaging a vehicle belonging to his rival. Kwadwo Atta, who pleaded guilty, will serve a six-month prison term in default.

The court ordered that one million cedis out of the fine, if paid, should be given to Kwasi Owusu, his rival and complainant as compensation.

Chief Inspector Edward Osei told the court that the complainant who is a driver and based in Kumasi was once married to Madam Akua Akyaa, the wife of Atta, and they had a son who is five years old. He said when the marriage broke up the complainant took his son along with him and then married Adwoa Owusu. The prosecutor said Madam Owusu who stays at Anyinatease near Abono along Lake Bosomtwe came to Kumasi and took her stepson along with her to Anyinatease.

However, chief Inspector Osei said when Akua Akyaa, the biological mother of the boy heard that her son had been taken to Anyinatease, she went and took her to Abono where her husband, Atta operates the bar. He said when the complainant heard that his former wife had gone for their son from his present wife, he went to Abono to take his son, but his former wife's husband refused to allow him to take the boy. Chief Inspector Osei said Atta supported his wife to prevent Kwasi Owusu from taking his son away and this resulted in a fight.

He said after the fight, the complainant left for Anyinatease to spend the night with his wife and at about 0430 hours left for Kumasi. But between Anyinatease and Abono he heard a big bang at the back of the vehicle he was driving and stopped with the intention of finding out what hit the vehicle.

Chief Inspector Osei said one of the passengers on board the vehicle saw the accused fleeing into the bush and so told the complainant that it was Atta who hit the vehicle with a stone.