The Attorney General has filed a motion for nolle prosequi in the Suhum funeral violence case involving the driver of the Member of Parliament for the area.

The accused Samuel Kofi Agyei was charged with causing harm with offensive weapon contrary to section 70 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 ( Act 29) when first put before Koforidua Magistrate court on Thursday, September 2,2021.

The Eastern Regional State Attorney Emily Addo-Kyereh argued during the maiden appearance in Magistrate court that the nature of the offence comes with severe punishment and therefore the accused may not avail himself to stand trial when admitted to bail.

The Presiding Judge His Worship Eric Daning asked the counsel on both sides to approach the bench.

Subsequently, the Magistrate court judge adjourned the case to Tuesday, 7th September 2021, for the ruling on the bail application.

However, on Tuesday it was revealed that AG has filed a motion to discontinue the case at the Magistrate court.

The suspect was discharged but re-arrested to face fresh charges at the circuit Court.

Background

The accused Samuel Kofi Agyei alias Jamalo who allegedly inflicted machete wounds on the NPP communication officer for Lower West Akyem Benard Kwasi Amoani during a violent clash at a funeral was arrested Wednesday, September 1, 2021, after he was accompanied by a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party to turn himself in to the Suhum police.

Four persons sustained injuries during clashes between two rival groups of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Suhum Constituency of the Eastern Region at a funeral rite.

The injured including Bernard Kwasi Amoani, 51, a communication officer for lower West Akyem NPP who was inflicted deep cutlass wound on the forehead were admitted at Suhum government Hospital.

One of the victims Alexander Odei also suffered minor injury on the upper lip.

The chaos was triggered when Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa and some party communicators and Serial Callers attended the funeral of the late father of one of the communicators identified as Opare on Saturday, August 28, 202

While at the funeral, the Member of Parliament and his entourage led by the Constituency chairman Frederick Ofosu also arrived

At that material moment, we were left with no option than to ask for permission to leave the funeral grounds for other equally important engagements. Our Spokesperson was therefore asked to seek permission for us to leave the funeral grounds. Upon seeking permission, our spokesperson expressed our deepest displeasure and dismay by the position of the Suhum MP and his team to disrespect hardworking grassroot communicators of our dear party in that denigrating manner

In the process of reiterating our displeasure, disappointment and resentment on the position of the MP, our Spokesperson was forcibly attacked by a mob of supporters of the MP who manhandled him in an uncharitable manner”

The driver of the MP Kofi Agyei alias Jamalo allegedly pulled a machete to struck the forehead of victim Benard Kwasi Amoani

“These despicable individuals also turned their attention to innocent leading members of the Eastern Regional Grassroot Communication’s Team of the NPP in an attempt to rescue our Spokesperson from harm. In the process, the driver of the MP grabbed a Machete from the vehicle of the MP and slashed the forehead of our colleague Bernard Kwasi Amoani, who was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention”.

Later in the day, Charles Gyasi, Suhum Constituency Youth Organizer accompanied by Martin Odei and Ernest Lartey, all executive members of the NPP went to the Suhum Police station to report the incident

Police together with complainants proceeded to Suhum Government Hospital where victim Kwasi Amoani was seen at the Emergency ward under stable conditions responding to treatment.

Police medical forms were prepared and issued to victims to be endorsed.

 

Source : Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah