Accra (Greater Accra), 25 Feb. '99 -

An Accra circuit tribunal yesterday ordered a carpenter to pay 800,000 cedis compensation to his alleged rival for biting off his ear lobe. Eric Adjetey Sowah, who pleaded guilty to causing harm, will go to prison for six months if he fails to pay the compensation to Peter Awuvey, a taxi driver. The tribunal chairman, Mrs Frances Owusu Arhin, also asked the accused to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for one year or in default go to prison for three months. Police chief Inspector Alice Takyiwa told the tribunal that Mr Awuvey operates at the Nungua lorry station where Madam Eunice Dede Laryea, the wife of the accused, sells kenkey. The prosecutor said at 2 a.m. on February 11, Madam Laryea hailed Mr Awuvey's taxi to take her home as it was too late in the night to which he obliged for a fee. While Madam Laryea was bringing out her empty utensils from the boot of the taxi, the accused emerged from their house, slapped Mr Awuvey and bit off his left ear lobe. In his statement to the police, the accused said he bit off the ear of the driver whom he suspected to be a boyfriend of his wife. The accused said he was at the station when the driver drove his wife away at 9 p.m. that day but brought her to the house at 2 a.m.