General News of Tuesday, 23 July 2002

Source: gna

Beckley's Case Adjourned Again

Prosecution in the case of Sri Yogi Ram Beckley, a medical practitioner and occultist, charged for assaulting and kidnapping a class three pupil on Monday told the Adjabeng Community tribunal that it is still awaiting advice from the Attorney General's Office (A-G's) to commence with trial.

Beckley has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is on a five million cedis bail. At Monday’s sitting the tribunal asked the Prosecution the charges leveled against Beckley and asked: "Do charges of kidnapping go to the A-G's office?" Superintendent of Police, Mr. Patrick Sarpong replied that it is the A-G's Office that requested for a duplicate docket. Mr. Sarpong therefore asked the tribunal chaired by Mrs. Elizabeth Akomah to give them a three-week adjournment.

The tribunal obliged after both Prosecution and Defence Counsel agreed on August 12. The facts as presented by the Prosecution were that on April 12, Beckley lured a girl to his house under the pretext of buying some vegetables she was selling. In the house, he tied the girl to a tree overnight without water and food, until her stepfather was informed and he raised the alarm.

Beckley was arrested on Saturday April 13 after Police received a complaint from a parent that her daughter was abducted by the accused on Friday evening. An angry mob set ablaze his residence and property at New Gbawe in Accra.