Court remands trader in prison custody

Kumasi, July 11, GNA - A Kumasi circuit court last Friday remanded a 42-year-old trader who slashed the throat of a porter (Paa-O-Paa) in prison custody for causing unlawful harm.

Yaw Badu, who lives at the Race Course section near the Cultural Centre, pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on July 21. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joseph Odjidja told the court, presided over by Mr. Essel Mensah that on July 4, this year, Kwabena Sarfo, the complainant, who is also the victim, decided to visit his friend whose name was given only as John at the Race Course.

He said on his way, the complainant saw Badu beating his friend and so rushed to the scene to separate them.

Chief Inspector Odjidja said, however, that the fight took a different turn when the accused persons turned his fury on the complainant and started beating him up.

He said in the process, Badu lifted the complainant and threw him on the ground, dragged him to a point and beat him up mercilessly. Not satisfied with the punishment he had meted out to the complainant, the prosecutor said, the accused pulled out a cutlass and started slashing the throat of the complainant.

Chief Inspector Odjidja said Sarfo therefore, shouted for help, which attracted people to the scene who managed to seize the cutlass from Badu.

He said they rushed the complainant to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) where he was treated and discharged and he later reported the case at the Kumasi Central Police Station who arrested Badu.

Chief Inspector Odjidja said after police investigations, the accused was charged with the offence. Meanwhile, Sarfo cannot speak properly as a result of the cut in his throat and is still receiving treatment at KATH. July 11 05