Jealous Carpenter Jailed For 3 Months

Asamankese (Eastern Region), 1, Oct. Kwaku Akwaful, a carpenter who beat up and inflicted multiple wounds on a former girl friend has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment in hard labour by the Asamankese circuit court. Akwaful who pleaded guilty to four counts was additionally fined 600,000 cedis or in default serve a further 18 months in jail in hard labour. He was charged with assaulting Dora Asor, a trader and Samuel Amoyaw, a photographer and causing unlawful damage to Dora's dresses and a watch, and shorts and a shirt of Amoyaw. Police Chief Inspector B.E.A. Botchway told the court that Dora and Akwaful had separated after two years of friendship but when Akwaful saw Dora walking with Amoyaw at about 5.30 a.m on September 22, he became furious and demanded 150,000 cedis he claimed he had given her. When Dora could not produce the money on the spot, Akwaful pounced on her and beat her up. When Amoyaw attempted to intervene, Akwaful beat him also and damaged his watch and tore his shorts and shirt. Dora, who denied owing Akwaful, said they had separated six months ago but whenever he saw any man talking to her he became angry. She said Akwaful beat her four times that day including one at the charge office of the Kade police station. In one of the beatings, Akwaful bit her on several parts of her body including her buttocks. The judge, Mr S.S. Appiah, in his judgement, observed that a medical report on Dora said she received multiple human bites and described Akwaful's action as very stupid and barbaric. The Judge said jealousy took control of the accused and his misconduct could not be excused, adding that his action amounted to aggravated assault. He ordered that 100,000 cedis of the fine, if paid, should be given to Dora and 50,000 cedis to Amoyaw.