Kumasi, Feb 7, GNA - A circuit court at Kumasi sentenced Yaw Twumasi, a 40-year-old wielder, to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour for pouring acid on Seth Owusu, an auto mechanic, causing him to be blind in one eye.

Twumasi, who pleaded guilty to the charge was ordered to settle the medical bills of Owusu after serving the sentence.

Police Chief Inspector Francis Kusi told the court presided over by Mr R.M. Kugyapwah that Twumasi befriended Ama Adutwumwaah, an apprentice seamstress at Ahinsan Estate in Kumasi.

Chief Insp. Kusi said the lovers were advised by their families to end the relationship because they (lovers) were closely related. The prosecution said Twumasi continued to monitor the affairs of Adutwumwaah who was being dated by Owusu.

Chief Inspector Kusi said on March 25, last year, when Adutwumwaah was seeing Owusu off after a visit around 2000 hours, Twumasi who was hiding at a corner of the house, suddenly poured an acid on Owusu. The prosecutor said the victim sustained burns on the body and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi but he was referred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra where after treatment, Owusu got blind in one of his eyes.

The accused then went into hiding at Goaso and later at Ayeduase where upon a tip-off he was arrested by the police. The judge, passing the sentence said Twumasi's action was callous and he should be put away from the society for a long time. 07 Feb. 07