Mason granted bail for extortion

An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday granted bail in the sum of GH?11, 000.00 with two sureties to Enoch Lamptey for causing unlawful harm and extortion.

Enoch was said to have caused unlawful harm to Richard Kwesi Addai, and extorted an amount of GH?50.00 from Samuel Afrim by means of threat to harm his son Richard, if an amount of GH?500.00 was not paid as ransom to him.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail to reappear on March 10, for trial.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu told the Court that the complainant, Richard is a house help to a witness in the case, Samuel and both reside at Gbawe Zero, while the accused person is a mason and a land guard, resident at Gbawe.

He said on February 3, at about 1100 hrs to 1200 hrs, the witness sent the complainant to a nearby house to buy him corn dough.

On his way the accused person met him at a junction leading to Agape from Gbawe and spoke to him.

He said on his way back to the house Enoch accosted him again and asked him why he refused to answer him when he addresses him earlier, but the complainant told him he did not understand the language he spoke earlier, which was Ga.

The prosecution said Enoch then asked Richard to assist him pack some items into a vehicle.

He led the complainant into an uncompleted building and put his hand into his pocket and stole an amount of GH?10.00.

He later alleged that the complainant brought him to the uncompleted building with the intent of having sex with him through the anus and demanded a compensation of GH?500.00 for the false claim.

Police Chief Inspector Adu said when the complainant told Enoch he had nothing to give him and demanded for his GH?10.00, Enoch vented his spleen on him, beat him up resulting in the victim bleeding from the nose.

He told the Court that Enoch then dragged Richard along, beating him with the claim that he was sending him to the police station, but took him to his house where he demanded an amount of GH?500.00 before he would guarantee his freedom.

The witness who is also the guardian of the complainant, sensing danger gave Enoch GH?50.00 to cool him down.

He said the complainant later lodged a complaint to the police and the accused person was arrested after which he admitted the offence.




Accra, Feb. 25, GNA –