Mpraeso, March 30, GNA - Six persons including a lawyer and two teachers on Wednesday appeared before a Circuit Court at Mpraeso for assaulting and stealing the cloth of the Amankrado of Akyem Anyinam, Nana Anyimadu. The accused who pleaded not guilty to the charge included Selina Senteng, 56, a lawyer at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Diana Obeng= , 59, a teacher, Barima Twum Antwi, 58, Esther Amoakoa, 52, a trader, Apenten= g Sowah a mason, 48, and Okai Apenteng, 46, a farmer. They were granted GH¢ 50 bail each to re- appear on April 19 for tri= al. Police Detective Inspector Christian Apronti, told the court presided over by Mr Kweku Osei that on January 05 this year, Nana Anyimadu who was from the Aduana Clan was installed the Amankrado for the town by the chief of Anyinam, Barima Benfo Kyere II. He said the accused who were from the Brentuo Clan claimed ownership o= f the stool and therefore, opposed the enstoolment of Nana Anyimadu. Insp Apronti said due to that the accused and other members of their family sent a petition to the Akyem Wenchihene for settlement, which was still pending.

The prosecutor said on January 30 this year, at about 1600 hours, Nana Anyimadu and his elders attended a funeral at the community funeral grounds where the gathering stood up for him when he arrived to show respect as custom demands but the accused and their colleagues from the Brentuo family failed to stand up.

Insp Apronti said the accused suddenly attacked the Amankrado, tried t= o remove his sandals and cloth as a means of destooling him. He said some witnesses came to the Amankrado's rescue but the accuse= d succeeded in taking away his special Adinkrah mourning cloth worth GH¢ 20= 0 but failed to remove his sandals. Insp Apronti said the Amankrado reported the case to the Anyinam polic= e and was issued with a medical form to attend hospital after which the accused were arrested and charged with the offense.