Four people before court for attacking Ga Mantse Palace

Accra, May 26, GNA - Four people who allegedly attacked Ga Mantse Palace at dawn last Monday, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday.

They are Nii Tackie Obilie also known as Ayittey Canada a traditionalist, Nii Saban-Quaye a goldsmith, Otu Blankson a photographer and Isaac Ayittey Quaye a fisherman all living at Gbese, a suburb in Accra. Nii Obilie was charged with aiding and abetment, while Nii Saban-Qua ye, Blankson and Quaye were charged with causing unlawful damage. Nii Saban-Quaye, Blankson and Quaye were additionally charged with being on the premises for unlawful purpose, causing unlawful damage, assa ult and stealing. They pleaded not guilty to the various charges.

Nii Obilie was granted GH¢10,000 bail with two sureties to be just ified while Nii Saban-Quaye, Blankson and Quaye were remanded into police custo dy to re-appear on Monday June 7. Mr Peter Duker, defence counsel prayed the court presided over by Mr

C.A. Wilson to admit his clients to bail.

He said Nii Obilie was a prominent citizen of Ga State with a fix pl ace of abode and credible sureties and accused persons would not run away fro m the law.

Defence counsel said Nii Obilie appeared before the court because he

had been informed that the accused persons acted on instructions from one

Bruno. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Riendolf Agyemeng, prosecut ing told the court that the complainant was the caretaker of Ga Mantse Palace .. He said at about 0130 hours on Monday, May 24, Nii Saban-Quaye, Blankson, Quaye and 17 others now at large went to the Ga Mantse Palace o n the orders of Nii Obilie who is in a chieftaincy dispute with Nii Tackie Tawiah III, Ga-Mantse to park all furniture in the waiting room outside. ASP Agyemang said the accused persons managed to gain access to the palace by scaling the wall and caused damage to eight louvre blades value d at GH¢16, forcibly opened two store-rooms and took away a 45-inches pla sma TV set, some Binatone appliances like wall clocks, fans, coffee mixers, three amplifiers and two speakers.

He said they also damaged five talking drums valued at GH¢1,000 an d went upstairs where the complainant was living, assaulted him and his wif e with cutlasses. ASP Agyemang said Nii Saban-Quaye took away GH¢520 and three mobil e phones from the complainant's room.

He said during the attack, a Police Patrol team arrived at the scene

and arrested three accused persons, who in their caution statement admitt ed acting on the instructions of Nii Obilie through one Bruno now at large. The prosecutor said GH¢242 cash and three mobile phones were retri eve from Saban-Quaye after the other suspects had escaped.

A locally made pistol, a live cartridge and three cutlasses were fou nd at the scene. He said the complainant and wife who sustained injuries were referre d to the Police Hospital where they were treated and discharged.