Aflao (V/R), Aug. 11, GNA - Three fetish cult leaders alleged to have captured and tortured a nursing mother for refusing to pacify a cult member she had supposedly wronged were on Monday granted bail in the sum of GH=A2 5,000 (50 million cedis), with one surety each by a circuit court at Aflao.

Midao Avorkpo, a cult priest at Adrume, his wife, Bosu Agbeko, 48 and Hede Avorkpo, 54, his brother, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, assault, indecent assault, causing unlawful harm and will re-appear on August 28.

Police Inspector Josephine Azukah, told the Court presided over by Group-Captain Martin Obeng-Ntim that the three and five others now at large detained a nursing mother in a shrine at Dekpor near Dzodze overnight, denying her access to her baby, stripped her naked and indecently assaulted her in public.

The court during its first sitting on the case ordered the arrest of six others including Dali Kushitor, 80, the chief priest of the cult at Dekpor and his five assistants to face the law. Inspector Azukah said Rejoice Atisey, 33, a petty trader lived with her husband and in-law Midao and Hede at Adrume. Miss Azukah said sometime early this year, Madam Atisey engaged Bosu, Midao's wife in a quarrel during which she allegedly used filthy language, considered a taboo for members of the cult on Bosu. Miss Azukah said as a result of the alleged insults, Bosu vacated the family home to take refuge in a bush and was to return only after Madam Atisey had performed some rites to cleanse her and pacify the cult.

She said for refusing to perform the rites to cleanse Bosu and also pacify the cult, the accused persons captured Madam Atisey, brutalised and stripped her naked and detained her in their shrine overnight. Miss Azukah said police stormed the shrine at Dekpor and rescued the victim the following day following a report by her husband.