Kumasi, Aug 18, GNA - A 55-year-old fetish priest of the "Sabroko" shrine at Twedie in the Atwima Kwanwoma District and one other person are being prosecuted by a Kumasi Circuit Court, for duping a couple of an amount of GH¢6,455. Kwabena Pie, the priest and Bright Asare, a carpenter, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties each. They would re-appear on September 8.

Police Chief Inspector Nana Fosu told the court presided over by Mr. Eric Baah that the complainant, Kwame Asabre is a farmer living at Kotei-Deduako, a suburb of Kumasi whilst the accused are residents of Twedie. About eight months ago, the complainant heard an advert on a Kumasi-based FM Radio Station, claiming that Pie had mystical powers to dig hidden ancestral gold.

He said the complainant, therefore, decided to engage his services to dig a hidden gold treasure on his farm at Wassa Amanfi in the Western Region.

Pie demanded a fee of GH¢1,600, which Asabre readily accepted while his wife promised an additional GH¢400 if he succeeded. Police Chief Inspector Fosu said in May 2009, the accused went with the complainant to the farm to perform some rituals after which a pot containing substance purported to be gold was dug out. Excited by the find, the complainant gave the priest GH¢2,000 and this included the GH¢400 promise by the wife.

Pie, he said, instructed the couple neither to send the pot to their home nor open it until some esoteric rites had been performed at his shrine. It was, therefore, decided that the pot should be kept by Asare. The priest warned that any violation of the order would make them to suffer from epilepsy, madness, blindness and dumbness. The couple made four separate visits to the Sabroko shrine to get Pie to perform the rites for the pot to be finally opened during which they were made to pay a total of GH¢6,455.

On July 31, the accused asked that the pot should be brought to the shrine for the necessary rituals. After it was sent, he failed to do as he had promised.

Asabre became frustrated by the delay tactics employed by Pie and confided in Asare about his intention to make a formal complainant to the police.

Police Chief Inspector Fosu said Asare leaked the information to the priest. Now, having been alerted, Pie mobilized some macho-men who snatched the pot when the complainant and Asare sent it to the shrine once again to get the priest to perform the rites. He said a report was subsequently made to the police who arrested the accused. Pie admitted collecting GH¢6,330 from the couple during police interrogation but explained that the money was used to buy items for performing the rituals.