Soldiers To Court

An Accra Circuit Tribunal, Chaired by Mr.. Charles Quist, has deplored the practice of some civilians who use military personnel to settle personal scores. Mr.. Quist made the remark when he remanded in prison custody three men of the Ghana Army. The three are corporal Daniel Monney, Lance-Corporal Livingstone Amegatcher and Lance-Corporal Federick Adjavon. They are facing two counts of extortion. Their civilian accomplice, Daniel Quarcoo, is charged with abetment of crime. They pleaded not guilty. Commenting on the soldier's behaviour, Mr.. Quist said they left their units without authority. They used a military vehicle to abduct the complianant, Nii Akwetey who is a traditional leader and the Dzasetse of Bortianor. They extorted one million cedis from him. According to the prosecution, the family of the 4th accused person, Daniel Quarcoo, had a land-dispute with the complianant. He, therefore, contacted a friend, Corporal Monney, to help him to arrest the complainant. They threatened and intimidated him so much so that he was afraid to continue with the litigation. Monney, therefore, contacted the other two soldiers and on the 14th of October at about midnight, they abducted the complianant under the pretext of escorting him to the Castle. However, on the way, they told the complainant that if he reached the Castle, he might not return alive. They, therefore, asked him to give four million cedis so that he could gain after some Negotiations to the amount was reduced to two million cedis. The accused, therefore, returned to Nii Akwetey's house where they were given one million cedis and the rest was to be collected later. Investigations conducted by Nii Akwetey showed that the accused persons had lied to him on the 14th of October about being wanted at the Castle. When Corporal Monney went for the rest of the amount, he was arrested, and he gave the names of his accomplices.

The case was adjourned to the 7th of November. The same tribunal began the trial of a Tema-based businessman, Kwaku Owusu, who is charged with fraud. He is alleged to have defrauded an Accra businessman, Beyamin Asem Gyakwa, of $14,000.00 the equivalent of ?29 million. Owusu pleaded not guilty and was granted ?20 million bail. He will appear in court on the 6th of November.