Ejisu (Ash), Aug 22, GNA- Opoku Manwere, a 39-year-old teacher at Asotwe near Ejisu in Ashanti, who forced a 10-year-old primary four pupil of the Asotwe Methodist primary school to collect faeces with his bare hands, was on Wednesday arraigned before the Ejisu District court for assault.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted self-recognisance bail to re-appear on September 8.

Police Inspector Nkansah Twumasi-Ankrah told the court, that the accused is a teacher and owned a piece of land, which he was developing. He said at about 0600 hours on May 3, this year, the accused visited the plot and saw the boy coming from a direction near the land. Inspector Twumasi-Ankrah said the accused on seeing the boy, suspected him of having defecated on his land but the boy said he did not.

The prosecution said the accused was not satisfied with the boy's explanation and, therefore, asked him to accompany the accused to inspect the place.

Inspector Twumasi-Ankrah said when they got therethe accused found faeces on a portion of the plot and ordered the boy to collect it with his hands and slapped him twice in the face.

The prosecution said when the boy got home he reported the incident to his parents who also lodged a complaint with the police.