Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Source: GNA

Two friends in court for assault

Kade, July 6, GNA - Two friends, both miners, on Wednesday appeared before the Kade District Magistrate's Court on charges of assault and abetment of crime.

Abubakari Sadick, 42, who pleaded guilty for assault was asked to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for nine months or in default to serve six months in prison.

He was also ordered to compensate his victim, George Darko, with GH¢120 to cover his medical expenses.

On the other hand, Ohene Tutu, 54, who faced a charge of abetment and pleaded not guilty, was ordered by the Magistrate, Mr Abdul Majid Iliasu, to be sent to the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital for observation for his strange behaviour.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Francis Cobbina, said Darko, Sadick and Tutu were miners resident at Kade.

He said Tutu and one Seth Asare were business partners in Land Life Mining Company at Kade and whenever Asare was out of town he delegated the complainant, Darko, to represent him in the company.

On May 13 after the day's work, Tutu went to the bank to cash money for payment of their workers.

The prosecutor said Darko later decided to wash or extract gold dust from the black soil which was the whole day's work of Tutu.

He said when Tutu returned from the bank and noticed what Darko had done; he went to his house to demand the gold.

When the complainant brought him the gold, Tutu suspected that he might had stolen some of the mineral and therefore ordered Sadick to beat the complainant which he obeyed and physically assaulted him.

The prosecutor said when Darko could not bear the beatings any longer; he took to his heels and reported the case to the police.

During investigation, Sadick and Tutu admitted the offence.