Benkumhene of Mim granted 10 million cedis bail

Sunyani, April 20, GNA - Nana Tutu Kwateng, 66, Benkumhene of Mim Traditional Area and nine others on Wednesday appeared before Magistrate's court "B" in Sunyani for carrying offensive weapons. The nine were Adjei Yaw, Attah Fosu, Osei Kwadwo, Akwasi Afrani, Patrick Owusu, Inusah Mohammed, Michael Addai Fokuo, Yaw Thomas and Francis Adu.

Nana Kwateng was granted 10 million cedis bail with a surety to be justified and would reappear on April 24 while the rest were remanded into prison custody.

Their pleas were not taken.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel T. Boison told the court presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah that on April 10, this year, the police received information that there was a riot at Mim in the Ahafo Ano North District with people carrying guns and cutlasses. The report indicated that many people received injuries as a result of the riot, suspected to be a chieftaincy dispute therefore, a police task force was dispatched to the town to restore order.

Police Chief Inspector Boison said the police on arrival in the town intercepted an unregistered taxicab at about 2200 hours with the accused persons including Nana Kwateng on board and armed with axes, short guns, pistols, a chain saw and a whip.

The prosecution said the accused persons told the police when arrested that they were recruited by Nana Kwateng from Kumasi through one Lalas, now on the run to fight for him (Nana Kwateng) to regain a timber concession.

Police Chief Inspector Boison said the accused were sent to the police station at Mim and later to Sunyani to face charges of abetment of crime and carrying offensive weapons after investigations.