Trader fined for biting off the thumb of house wife

Accra (Greater Accra) 7 Jan. '99

An Accra circuit tribunal has fined a trader, four million cedis for biting off the thumb of her former boy friend's wife. Helena Sakyibea, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, told the tribunal that although she fought with Madam Eunice Akurang, a nurse, she did not bite off her thumb. She will go to prison for three months should she fail to pay the fine. The chairperson of the tribunal, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson Yeboah, also ordered the accused person to pay an additional one million cedis as compensation to Madam Akurang or go to prison for six months in default. The sentences are to run concurrently. The Tribunal heard that Sakyibea was once a girl friend to the husband of Madam Akurang but their friendship ended when the accused poured hot pepper into the eyes of Madam Akurang. The prosecution said on April 12, last year, the accused went Madam Akurang's room at Nungua at about 9.30 a.m. and attacked her. It was during the Fight that the accused bit off Madam Akurang's thumb.