The Chairman of the Ho Central Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Van Seshi Torblu, was on Monday sentenced to a fine of ?200,000 by a Ho circuit court for assaulting Joefrey Mensah, an electrician.

In default, the accused will serve a three-month imprisonment in hard labour. The accused pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea. The court, presided over by E. Siameh ordered that ?100,000 of the fine should be paid to the complainant.

On 29 December last year, the accused slapped Mensah when a misunderstanding ensued between them at an end-of-year party at the residency.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector C. Agbodza, told the court that on 29 December last year, there was an end-of-year get-together for members of the NPP at the regional Minister?s residence. During the merry-making, a misunderstanding ensued between the accused and the complainant which resulted in the former slapping the latter.

A complaint was later lodged at the Police station and the accused was arrested. During preliminary interrogation, the accused admitted that offence, but explained that the complainant was in the habit of insulting him. After interrogation, he was put before court.

Passing sentence, Siameh contended that verbal insults was not a justification for intentional assault which could only serve as a plea of mitigation of sentence. He said he was taking into consideration the fat that the offence was committed in the heat of a quarrel which the complainant played part.

In his plea for mitigation of sentence, the accused pleaded for leniency and promised not to repeat the offence again. He alleged that the complainant hit him intentionally and when he complained, he (complainant) rather insulted him and disgraced him before the gathering.