Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 9 July 2015

Source: Daily Guide

Pastor’s thumb slashed

Library Photo: PastorLibrary Photo: Pastor

The Founder and General Overseer of Heavens Hope Ministry, Rev Isaac Abrokwah, had his thumb slashed off by a barber following an altercation over the barber’s daughter writing on the glass door of their house.

The suspect, Benjamin Akafia Ofori alias Water, who also bit the pastor’s leg and neck after the man of God asked his wife to tell their daughter to stop writing on the glass door, was put in a Circuit Court presided over by Yaw Atta Sampong and charged with causing harm.

The suspect pleaded not guilty and has been granted bail in the sum of GHc5,000 with two sureties, while the case has been adjourned to July 21, 2015.

Narrating events leading to the arrest of the suspect, the prosecutor, Inspector C. Bansah, told the court the complainant is Rev Isaac Abrokwah while the suspect is a barber at Kwabenya Abuom.

According to him, on January 26, 2015 around 11am, the pastor’s wife approached the accused person’s wife and told her to advise her daughter to stop writing on the surface of the main glass door which serves as the main entrance to the house.

He said while discussing the issue, the barber took offence and locked the main door so the complainant confronted the suspect and asked him to open it but the accused refused.

This, he said, resulted in verbal exchanges which resulted in a fight between them.

Inspector C. Bansah said on the same day around 11pm, the complainant attended nature’s call in a nearby bush when he heard the wife of the barber shouting for help. The pastor rushed to the scene only to find the suspect flogging his wife with a belt.

Explaining further, the prosecutor said the complainant confronted the barber and asked why he was doing that but the barber directed his anger at the complainant. He took a machete to attack the pastor but the man of God took to his heels.

He was pursued by the accused person, who, on catching up with him, inflicted cutlass wounds on the right leg and other parts of the body, slashing off his (pastor’s) thumb in the attack.

The police officer added that the complainant also sustained human bites on the left cheek, chest and other parts of his body. He said the accused sustained human bites on his body as well.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant shouted for help and the other residents came to his rescue. The barber immediately fled the scene.

A report was made to the police and the suspect was arrested and charged with the offence.