One nabbed, three others granted bail in Denkyira riots

One more person has been nabbed by the Police and put before an Accra Circuit Court following his involvement in the riots which caused damage to properties at Denkyira, a suburb of Accra.

Thomas Lamptey, a.k.a Odartey, unemployed, was picked up by the Police at his hideout in Accra.

Lamptey, who is being held for causing harm to one Joseph Commey, pleaded not guilty and the court presided over by Mr. Francis Obiri remanded him into prison custody.

During the riots, a 15-year-old boy sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, three others who were put before the court on August 6, this year, have been granted bail each in the sum of GH¢16,000 with two sureties to be justified.

They are Ayetei Tetteh, Quaye Anmah and Malik Okine.

The three were jointly being held for conspiracy to and rioting with weapons such as guns cutlasses and sticks.

Tetteh and Anmah were additionally charged with causing unlawful damage to property valued at GH¢110 two silver pans GH¢25.

Okine was further charged for assaulting one Teiku Aryee until he fell unconscious.

They pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on August 26.

Superintendent of Police, Kofi Blagodzi told the court that the complainants, Madam Comfort Dodoo, Janet Commey, Doris Deede and Mr. Teiku Aryee were natives of Denkyira, as well as the accused persons.

He said there were two factions in the village fighting over a parcel of land, and on July 27, this year, the accused persons and those at large went on rampage and armed with machetes, guns and sticks attacked other residents in the village.

Superintendent Blagodzi said the complainants fell victim in the attack and reported the matter to the Police, who quickly dispatched security personnel to the area and arrested the accused persons but their eight accomplices escaped.

He said during investigations, the Police established that the accused persons took part in the riot, adding Tetteh, Anmah and others at large caused damage to a ford Pickup and kenkey for sale.

In the case of Okine, he allegedly assaulted Mr. Aryee until he became unconscious and was rushed to the Amasaman District Hospital, where he was treated.

This is the second time that riots had broken out at Denkyira, in the first incident several people, including a chief was killed.**