PASTOR CHARGED WITH TRIAL BY ORDEAL

Cape Coast(C/R), Feb. 9, Rev. Mannasseh Dekyie of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) at Baafikrom near Mankessim, today appeared before a Cape Coast circuit court charged with causing severe bodily injuries to two young girls to confess that they are witches. Together with him in the duck are two sisters, Rose Mensah 28, a nurse and Margaret Mensah 34, a trader also charged with abetment of rime. They all pleaded not guilty to trial by ordeal and were granted bail 200,000 cedis bail each to re appear on Tuesday February 13. According to the prosecution, Rose Mensah who is the step mother of the two girls, Ernestina Asante 15, and Nancy 17 sent them to Rev. Dekyie last october 15 on the grounds that they are witches. Rev. Dekyie subjected the girls to inhuman treatment for five months until their grandparents visited them. After narrating the incident to their grand parents, the case was reported to the police and the three were subsequently arrested, the prosecution said.