A farmer at Okorase in the West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern region has been jailed 20 years by a Koforidua High Court after he was found guilty for chopping off his wife’s hand over suspicion of infidelity.
The convict, Samuel Kwabena Mfoanu, 60, has been married to his wife for 35 years.
Presenting the facts of the matter to the Court, Deputy Eastern Regional State Attorney, Cyril Boateng Keteku, stated that the complainant, Esther Offei, 56, and the convict have six children together.
However in the early part of 2014, the love turned sour when the convict began making a litany of allegations of infidelity against the wife which led to several physical assault on her by the convict.
The physical and verbal attacks ceased when some Elders of the Okorase Community brokered peace between the couple, however, in the latter part of May 2015, the wife moved out from his matrimonial home to stay with her mother near Adeiso in the same district.
According to the Prosecutor, on May 24, 2015, at about 7am the wife went to one of her farms and while returning home at about 2pm met her husband who had laid ambush in the middle of a farm route popularly known as Baasare.
The convict who was wielding a cutlass and without provocation accosted the wife and butchered her severally on the neck, head and leg and cruelly hacked-off the right hand.
Fortunately, three young boys who were trekking to a nearby village appeared at the crime scene.The convict upon seeing them fled into the bush.
The victim who was bleeding profusely in an unconscious state was rushed to the Nsawam government Hospital but was referred to Korle -Bu Teaching Hospital where she was admitted and treated but her right hand which was severed was amputated.
She was discharged on June 17, 2015.
On June 26, 2015 the convict was arrested and arraigned before the Nsawam Circuit Court but was granted bail.
According to the wife, the case was becoming a foolish case therefore she took the matter to the regional state Attorney’s Office which led to the transfer of the case to Koforidua High Court.
Speaking to Starr News Eastern Regional Correspondent Kojo Ansah, after the sentence, Madam Offei said she is happy justice has been served.
She, however, want the court to enter another judgment for compensation stating that due to her condition, she is unable to engage in farming activities creating hardship for her family.
