Mankranso (Ash), Jan. 22, GNA - The Mankranso Magistrate Court on Monday remanded a 27-year-old farmer in prison custody for assaulting the assemblyman for Adugyama zongo in the Ahafo Ano South district. Abdulia Ibrahim alias "Container" pleaded guilty and will re-appear on January 27, 2004.

Police Inspector Carl Michael Adjeng told the court, presided over by Mr Frank Owusu Afriyie, that the accused harboured hatred against Mr Musah Yusif, the assemblyman for Adugyama Zongo, for defeating him in the last district assembly elections.

He said on January 5 this year, the assemblyman had information that the accused threatened some people at the Adugyama Zongo and bragged that he had the backing of the Court Registrar and the Mankranso police.

Inspector Adjeng said when the assemblyman verified from the Court Registrar and the Mankranso police, they denied the claim of the accused.

He said at about 2000 hours that day, the assemblyman was seeing off two visitors to a friend's house when they met the accused on the street.

The prosecution said the accused confronted the assemblyman as to why he went to the Registrar and the police but before he (assemblyman) could answer, the accused gave him a hefty slap, which sent him crashing down.

Inspector Adjeng said the accused shouted at the assemblyman, "why have you fallen down and rolling on the ground from one slap". He said the visitors had to beg the accused to stop assaulting the assemblyman after which they reported the case to the Mankranso police, who arrested him.

During interrogation, Chief Inspector Adjeng said, the accused admitted assaulting the assemblyman for consulting the Court Registrar on his claim. 22 Jan. 04