Three jailed for defaulting to pay court fine

Three farmers have been ordered by a Kumasi Circuit Court to serve one-year jail term each for defaulting in paying a total fine of GHC2,400.00, their punishment for threatening and assaulting another farmer.

Nana Osei Mensah, Kwabena Kwarteng and Yaw Aboagye, all cocoa farmers were on August 17, 2012, sentenced to a fine of GH¢800.00 each or a year’s jail term in default, over threat of death and the assault of one Kwasi Owusu.

They denied the charges but were found culpable by the Court.

Chief Inspector Hannah Acheampong told the Court, that all three, natives of Asanso-Kyekyewere near Anwia-Nkwanta, reside in Kumasi, but Nana Mensah shares a cocoa farm boundary with Owusu, the Complainant in the case.

The complainant went to his farm and found that a stick fastened with a red piece of cloth had been planted at a spot on the boundary line and got terrified since that was interpreted to be a sign of bad omen.

His farmhand and a witness in the case, whose name was given as Agyeman, confirmed that Nana Mensah came to the farm in the company of the two other convicts and planted the stick.

The Court further heard that complainant, then in the company of his brother, one Kankam, went to Nana Mensah’s house to inquire why he did that, but this angered Nana Mensah who told Complainant never to step in his farm “or else he would see his blood.”

After a report was made to the Police Striking Force Unit in

Kumasi, on August 27, complainant led the Police to Asanso-Kyekyewere to arrest the convicts.

Nana Osei Mensah was the first to be identified, as they looked for Yaw Aboagye, he suddenly emerged from his room and without provocation, slapped the complainant on his cheeks.

The three accused persons were arrested and escorted to the police station.

In their caution statement, they denied the charges; but Yaw Aboagye however admitted the assault charge.

The Court was presided over by Madam Comfort Tasiame.