Contractor remanded for assaulting visually impaired brother

Cape Coast, May 27, GNA - A misunderstanding between two brothers, over the payment of light bill, had landed one of them in prison custody, pending his trial.

Ekow Essiam Abraham, a 57 year old contractor, based in Cape Coast, was said to have given his younger brother, Mr Francis Abraham, who is visually impaired, a hefty slap on the face, for daring to ask him to switch on a light he had switched off.

For that act, the Cape Coast Magistrate's Court, presided over by Mr Narh Awuah, on Friday, remanded Essiam in prison custody, when he appeared before it.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful assault and would be re-arraigned on Friday, June 10.

Before his remand, the presiding judge condemned the behaviour of the accused and stressed the need for society to treat people with disabilities with respect.

Sergeant Samuel Amoako, the prosecutor, had told the court that, on Saturday, April 9 this year, the complainant, was taking his bath when the accused switched off the light in the bathroom.

Sergeant Amoako said when the complainant asked the accused to switch the light on; Ekow became offended and gave the complainant a hefty slap. He said the complainant reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested.