Assemblyman assaults unit committee member

Juaso (Ash), Sept. 27, GNA - The Assemblyman for Bankame in the Asante-Akim South District, who canned a member of the unit committee over a demand for cement, to undertake school project, has been fined one million cedis by the Juaso Circuit Court. Yaw Adu Gyimah, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and will go to jail for 12 months in default.

The court ordered that 200,000 cedis out of the fine, if paid, should be given to the complainant as compensation. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Francis Kwasi Ofori told the court that on August 8, this year, the unit committee beat a gon-gon for the people in the town to attend communal labour on a school project in the village.

Chief Inspector Ofori said when the unit committee members went to the Assemblyman for the release of cement provided by the District Assembly, which was kept in his room, the Assemblyman refused to give out the cement.

The prosecution said as a result, the unit committee members shouted at the Assemblyman at the top of their voices, and he became offended.

Chief Inspector Ofori said the Assemblyman picked a cane and gave some lashes to the complainant, who was later rescued by other members. The prosecution said the complainant reported the case to the police, who issued him with a police medical form to attend hospital. Chief Inspector Ofori said, Dr Justice Lord Gyamfi-Fenteng, District Chief Executive for the area, initially settled the matter but soon after his departure, the family members of the accused person started teasing the complainant.

The prosecution said as a result, the complainant insisted that the matter be settled in court.

This, Chief Inspector Ofori said led to the arrest of the accused person, who after investigations, was charged with the offence.