Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 5 March 2016

Source: GNA

Fetish Priest remanded for possessing military accoutrements

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A fetish priest who had in his possession a pump action gun, a pistol, military uniform and two pairs of military boots on Friday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Bernard Ayi Amegavi’s military uniform had his name tag and a rank of sergeant.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of firearms and military accoutrements without lawful authority.

The court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh remanded Amegavi into Police custody pending further investigations.

He is to reappear on March 18.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector E. Afful told the court that complainants in the case were Policemen from Mamprobi Police Station.

The accused resides at Mamprobi.

On February 29, this year at about 6:00pm, the Tema Abbafoitse, who is also the National President of the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association, sent a letter to the Mamprobi Police Station to assist them to trace Amegavi and conduct investigation on him for holding himself as a member of the Association and practicing as a traditional healer.

The complainants, therefore, invited Amegavi to the Police station for questioning.

Prosecution said during questioning, an informant alerted the Police that Amegavi had in his possession guns and he had been seen in Military Uniform.

The prosecutor said the complainant escorted Amegavi to his room at Mamprobi and during a search, a pump action gun and pistol were retrieved.

On 1st March this year, another search was conducted and a set of Military uniform with the accused person’s name tag boldly displayed on it and two “desert’’ boots were found in his room.

Prosecution said Amegavi could not produce documents covering the guns.

In his caution statements, Amegavi admitted that the Military accoutrements and guns were found in his room, but failed to lead the Police to where he obtained them.