Sunyani, July 18, GNA- Nana Amonsem Darko II, chief of Atronie has been granted bail to the tune of GH 10,000 (100 million cedis) with three sureties by a magistrate court in Sunyani on Tuesday. Nana Amponsem Darko II, 62, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of Mr. Anthony Yeboah-Boateng, former Administrator of the Goaso government hospital at Atronie, near Sunyani on Easter Sunday.

He was charged with abetment of crime and remanded into prison custody on his first appearance in court on July 4 this year. The court, presided over by Mr. Albert Zoogah, ordered the chief to report to the Sunyani Municipal police station every Monday at 0900 hours and to re-appear before the court on August 7, this year. The queen mother of Atronie, Nana Wirekoaa Afriyie, 57, who was arrested and placed in custody for allegedly harbouring two of her sons, suspects in the murder case, is to remain on her formal bail of 100 million cedis with three sureties.

The court however refused bail to 13 other suspects charged with the murder, including the husband of the queen mother, and were again remanded into prison custody to reappear on the adjourned date. A total of 37 persons suspected to be involved in the murder were arrested and arraigned before court, but it discharged 22 of them after being found innocent by the police.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Martin Depheamaphor, prosecutor, told the court that all the 22 suspects discharged were found to be innocent after screening on the charges of murder, causing damage and harbouring criminals.

He however said the police could invite them any time they were needed to assist in investigations.

Some unidentified youth at Atronie, near Sunyani, allegedly pounced on the deceased at about 2130 hours on Easter Sunday as he, his wife and a Roman Catholic Sister conveyed the dead body of his aunt in his private car from Sunyani to the Goaso government hospital. The youth had barricaded the road for a street jam to celebrate the Easter festivities and mistook Mr. Boateng to be an alleged ritual murderer and assaulted him to death.

The two women were however saved by a policeman who whisked them to the safety of the police station but also had his share of the assault.