Complainant refuses to leave court in protest against judgement

Kumasi, Dec 7, GNA - A chop bar operator, a complainant in an assault case on Tuesday refused to leave the premises of a Kumasi circuit court in protest against what she perceived as mild punishment meted out to an accused person.

The accused person who had inflicted wounds on her left cheek with a razor blade was bonded for one year to be of good behaviour and would serve six months imprisonment, if he broke the bond. Alima Saliieu could not accept the fact that someone who inflicted wounds on her should only be bonded for one year. She actually went to the court clerks and prosecutor to demand a stiffer punishment for the accused, whose name was given only as Salamatu and that, the accused statement that the complainant snatched her boyfriend from her, with whom she was pregnant, which provoked her, were all pack of lies.

Alima said the man in the centre of the controversy was her brother and not her boyfriend and that he was not responsible for the accused's pregnancy.

Police Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei told the court presided over by Madam Wilhemina Hammond that Alima was a chop bar keeper at Allah Bar, whilst the accused, was a kayayo at the Kumasi Central Market.

She said at about 2200 hours on November 17, this year, the complainant's brother visited her in her room and after sometime, saw him off and returned to her room. The prosecution said upon a tip-off, the accused got to know that the complainant had returned to her room and so she entered the room and without any provocation, slashed the complainant's left cheek with a razor blade.

Chief Inspector Baffour-Kyei said a report was therefore made to the police, who issued her with a medical report form for hospital and the accused was arrested, who admitted the offence but stated that the complainant attacked her first.