Assemblyman charged with threat of arson

Wa (Western Region), 9 Feb. '99 -

Mr Stephen Kpen, assemblyman for Zampo electoral area in the Lawra district, has appeared before the Wa circuit court for allegedly threatening to burn down the premises of Eremon Secondary Technical School. Kpen, who is facing a two-count charge of offensive conduct and issuing threat of arson, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court, presided over by Mr Gibson Adzagli, granted him one million cedis bail to be justified. The case has been adjourned to Friday, February 19. Giving the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector S.S. Kudolo said in November, last year, Damlar Nyogyang, a resident of Eremon, near Lawra, lodged a complaint with the police that six angry people from Zambo had destroyed the foundation of his building without any provocation and warned him against continuing with the project. Police Chief Inspector Kudolo said because their only vehicle was under repairs, they borrowed an Isuzu pick-up belonging to Eremon Secondary Technical School and drove to the site. He said members of the mob resisted arrest and molested the police who were sent to arrest them until a reinforcement team was sent from Wa to bring the situation under control. He said while the police were having a dialogue with the elders of the place, the assemblyman allegedly went to the headmaster and rebuked him for releasing the school's vehicle to the police to effect the arrest of the gang which demolished Mr Nyogyang's building and threatened to burn down the whole school. The prosecutor added that when the assemblyman was invited to the police station for interrogation, he refused to give his statement.