Accra, July 3, GNA - A pharmacy technician, who allegedly employed the services of thugs to pour acid on her colleague for working harder than her, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Friday charged with causing harm. Portia Naa Ashieley and her accomplices Harriet Owusu, a trader, Sumiala Yakubu, a fridge mechanic, Adamu Karimu, unemployed and a driver identified only as Alhaji who is at large are facing charges of abetment of crime and causing harm.

Ashieley is said to have paid GH¢100 cedis to her accomplices to carry out the act in the night.

They have pleaded not guilty and the court presided over by Mr. D.E .K. Daketsey has remanded them into Police custody to reappear on July 9. Chief Inspector Johnson K Anim, the prosecutor, said the complainant Ms Agnes Fiona Aviam, a pharmacy technician, and Naa Ashieley were good friends who worked at Avist Chemist at Dworwulu in Accra. According to prosecution, Naa Ashieley had worked for five years while Ms Aviam had worked for a month.

The prosecutor said after Ms Aviam's employment at the pharmacy shop, Ashieley saw her as a threat because she (Ms Aviam) worked very hard and was always commended.

Chief Inspector Anim said on June 22, this year, Ashieley contacted Harriet to recruit men to carry out the plan for a fee of GH¢100 cedis.

On the same day, prosecution said, Harriet and Ashieley met and engaged Karimu and Alhaji, now at large, who was driving an Opel Astra Taxi with registration number GT 381 Y to carry out the plot. Chief Inspector Anim told the court that the accused laid ambush and Sumaila and Alhaji alighted from a waiting taxi and poured the acid on Ms Aviam while Ashieley and Karimu waited two 200 meters away. Prosecution said as soon as they accomplished their mission, they sped off in the waiting taxi.

Chief Inspector Anim said Ms Aviam suffered burns on her shoulders, alms, breast and the face.

During investigation, it came to light that some of the acid poured on the victim, spilled in the taxi cab.