Security man beats former wife over food

An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Wednesday, imposed a fine of 700,000 cedis (about 110 dollars) on Mathias Amissah, a security man, who beat up his former wife for failing to cook for him after giving her 110,000 cedis on two occasions.

Amissah pleaded guilty to causing unlawful harm. The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Mohammed Nabon ordered that 500,000 cedis out of the fine, if paid, should be given as compensation to the complainant, Madam Atta Panyin.

The accused will go to prison for three months with hard labour in default of payment of the fine. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Helena Sarpomah said sometime in October the accused gave Madam Panyin, his former wife 60,000 cedis to cook for him but she failed to do so. He gave her another 50,000 at the end of the month and once again she did not cook.

The prosecutor said an attempt by the accused to find out from the complainant the reason for her refusal to cook degenerated into a quarrel during which Amissah mercilessly assaulted Madam Panyin. Madam Panyin, a trader and Amissah, who have divorced, have one child.