Why Patrick Allotey pleaded not guilty despite admitting beating fan

Laywer Francis Kojo Arthur has revealed that his client Patrick Allotey pleaded not guilty due to the charges levelled against him.

According to him, although they expected a charge of battery or assault against Patrick Allotey, the boxer was charged with causing harm which he pleaded not guilty.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, Francis Kojo Arthurs said, “My client was charged for causing harm, now the element for causing harm and the situation which would arise for a charge of causing harm to be levelled against you is different. We were expecting a different charge so he pleaded not guilty to the particular charge. We were looking at assault or battery which is different from causing harm.”

Ghanaian boxer Patrick Allotey has pleaded not guilty to charges of causing harm after beating a co-spectator following a brief misunderstanding during the Accra Hearts of Oak versus Asante Kotoko Premier League fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium in January.

Patrick Allotey was captured in a viral video beating up a fan during the Super Clash game which has since received widespread condemnation.

The video showed Allotey asking the fan to move away since he appeared to be blocking his view.

The fan who was later identified as Michael Siaw refused, at which point Allotey was seen removing a headset around his neck and begun to push the spectator.

Allotey was captured in the video giving three quick stiff jabs to the face of the fan. This plunged Siaw to the ground where he struggled to get back up.

Also in the video, some women in the stands could be heard urging the pro-boxer to stop the attack on the spectator. The fan sustained a gash under his left eye and had to be stitched. During his first appearance in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty and has however been granted bail of GH¢100,000 with three sureties.

The court has also seized his passport.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has banned him for six months as a result of misconduct after facing the Disciplinary Committee last Wednesday.