The Koforidua Magistrate Court ‘B’ has remanded the alleged driver of the Member of Parliament for Suhum who hacked the head of an NPP constituency executive with a machete last Sunday.
The accused Samuel Kofi Agyei was arraigned before court Thursday morning and charged with causing harm with offensive weapon contrary to section 70 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 ( Act 29).
The Defense Counsel prayed the Court to grant the accused person bail but was objected to by the Regional State Attorney Emily Addo-Kyereh who argued that the nature of the offence comes with a 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 adjourned the case to Tuesday, 7th September 2021, for the ruling on the bail application.
The offence charged is a first degree felony which has a maximum jail term of life imprisonment.
The offence is an indictable one which also means that the District Court will only have jurisdiction to do the committal proceedings and commit the accused to stand trial at the High Court or otherwise .
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.
According to Eastern Regional Grassroot Communicators “they requested that they join the entourage of the MP (Hon. Oboafo Kwadwo Asante) in extending pleasantries to the bereaved family since we are all cherished members of the NPP. After informing the PA of the MP Suhum Constituency of our decision, we were clearly informed that the MP does not recognize any of us as members; hence, we cannot join his entourage in exchanging pleasantries to our dear brother”.
Alexander Odei popularly known as Big Deal took the microphone to announce that they were leaving for other engagements but wanted to place on record that they have been prevented from greeting the MP.
“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.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command DSP Ebenezer Tetteh confirmed the incident when contacted.
He said the Suhum Police command is investigating the matter to bring the culprits to book.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo
