Regional News of Thursday, 20 April 2017

Source: starrfmonline.com

Chinto chaos: Chief hacked, three others injured

Clashes between two chieftaincy feuding factions over a parcel of land Clashes between two chieftaincy feuding factions over a parcel of land

There is uneasy calm at Chinto, a community near Nsawam in the Eastern region following bloody clashes between two chieftaincy feuding factions over a parcel of land.

The Chief of Chinto, Nana Yaw Fianko was hacked in the melee while three other persons sustained various degree of injuries and have been hospitalized.

Also, a Nissan Pathfinder was set ablaze during the bloody incident Wednesday.

Six persons including, a subchief and a woman have been arrested in connection with the bloody clashes and are facing the Koforidua Circuit Court.

The suspects are; Samuel Ayeh Nii Quartey alias Obonifoatse, Richard Nii Quartey, David Kotey, Adaku Ayittey, Isaac Acquaye, Richard Ayi alias Fear God, and Emmanuel Tetteh Netteh .

Meanwhile several other accomplices are at large.

The suspects have been charged with eight counts including conspiracy to commit crime and conspiracy to commit crime with the use of offensive weapons.

The Prosecuting officer, also deputy Eastern regional State Attorney ,Cyril Boateng Keteku, told the court that on April 13,2017 about 9:30 am, the 1st and 2nd complainants both farmers visited their cousin at his welding workshop at K.K city Junction at Nsumiah and whiles at the shop, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons namely; Samuel Ayeh Nii Quartey, Richard Nii Quartey and David Kotei and Adaku Ayittey respectively, and their accomplices now at large visited a disputed land (case pending in Koforidua High court) on their way back, the three accused persons spotted the complainants at the welding shop and without provocation, beat them to pulp leading to severe injuries on their bodies.

The injured informed the Chief of Chinto, Nana Yaw Fianko, the fourth complainant spoke on phone about the incident.

The Chief accompanied by one person visited the scene to verify the incident.

Fortunately the 3rd complainant, a surveyor, was travelling in a passenger vehicle from Chinto to Pokuase when he spotted the injured soaked with blood battling for their lives, he quickly alighted to offer emergency assistant to them, shortly, the Chief of Chinto also arrived in his Nissan Pathfinder Vehicle with Registration number, CR 4861-16 valued ghc70,000 to rush to the injured to a private clinic at Lantei for treatment .

The Prosecuting officers, Cyril Boateng Keteku explained further that, on their way to the clinic, the 3rd accused person ,David Kotey who gave out his Tri-Cycle to commit the atrocity , spotted the complaints and quickly abandoned the Tri-Cycle and took to his heels to raise false alarm in the Nsumia Community .

Whiles the complainants were enquiring about the identity of the Tri-Cycle rider to enable them report the case to the Police,the fourth accused person, Adaku Ayittey, appeared in attempt to retrieve the Tri-Cycle claiming it belongs to her son,the 3rd accused, David Kotey .

He said few minutes later all the accused persons and their accomplices now at large suddenly arrived at the scene following the alarm raised by the David Kotey .They subsequently collected firewood parked firewood near the scene and began smashing the Nissan Pathfinder carrying the injured persons.The accused persons brought Kerosene and matches to set the Vehicle ablaze and pounds on the Chief of Chinto ,subjected him to beatens and inflicted machete wounds on him.

The chief and the three others sensing danger took to their heels and took refuge at Lantei Clinic where they were treated, however, one other persons now the fourth complainant, was in comma but later regained consciousness and was transfered to Nsawam Government Hospital for further treatment.

Complaint was lodged at the Police station and further investigations led to the arrest of the six accused persons.

The bail granted the accused persons today have heightened tension in the community.

Protracted Chieftaincy dispute in Chinto community in May 2015, led to the murder of acting Chief of the town,Nana Mankata II and his driver, Nana Kwame.

The two were shot by assailants. The case is still pending in Court.