Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Source: GNA

Lecturer, two others on bail for allegedly threatening magistrate

Assin Fosu (C/R), July 4, GNA - The police at Assin have granted bail to three men, including a lecturer, in the sum of two million cedis each for allegedly threatening Mr Joseph Blay, a magistrate at the Assin North district court.

The three were alleged to have gone to Mr Blay's residence at Assin Fosu on June 25 to threaten him over a paternity case pending before his court.

The suspects included Nii Annan Okai, who told the police that he was a lecturer at the Universities of Ghana, Legon and Cape Coast. The rest were Kwadwo Danquah, Wassa Akropong district engineer and Daniel Amoh, a technician at the Assin North district administration. Chief Superintendent Charles Abraham Bukari, Assin Fosu divisional police commander, told the GNA at the weekend that the three men would be put before court after investigations.

According to Chief Superintendent Bukari, the three reportedly went to the magistrate's house "to seek favour" in respect of a paternity case, but the magistrate refused to grant them audience. He said Mr Blay explained to them that he does not handle cases in his house and asked them to come to court the following Wednesday. They became offended and Okai threatened that the magistrate "would see" and left. Chief Superintendent Bukari said the three returned later to the magistrate's house in his absence and left a note written by Okai. The note, according to Chief Superintendent Bukari stated: "I am sorry the way you received us in your house. Do not blame us if something happens to you. Keep this note as reference when we meet you at the Chief Justice's court". 04 July 06