Two jailed for defying court's order on land case

An Accra High Court on Monday committed two persons from Ayawaso in Accra to prison for defying a court's order of an interim injunction restraining them from stepping on a disputed land until the final determination of the matter.

Daniel Tettey, alias Nii Tettey Kojo, who says he is the Chief of Ayawaso and Lartey Boi Lartey, an elder at Gbawe in Accra were each sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment.

The court presided by Mr Justice Richard Apaloo also fined each of them one million cedis or a prison term of an additional six months.

They were bonded to be of good behaviour after serving the sentence or go to jail for 12 months. The court awarded 300,000 cedis costs against each of them.

Tettey and Lartey pleaded not guilty. They said they were not present in court when the order was given.

Mr Justice Apaloo said he found the conduct of the accused "very despicable" for brutalising court officials and policemen detailed to perform official duty on the disputed land.

The judge said an affidavit by one of the policemen who was assaulted stated that the accused encouraged thugs and land guards to seize weapons, which the policemen carried, kept them in captive for some days and assaulted them.

The court said a re-enforcement from the Police Striking Force rescued those in captivity and retrieved the weapons and ammunition the land guards seized.

Mr Justice Apaloo said the accused persons "ordinarily denied" the allegations, adding that in law it is obligatory for a respondent in a contempt case to convincingly prove his innocence than just deny it.

On February 24 last year, the Circuit Court restrained the accused from going onto a disputed land at Ayawaso until a suit filed against them by Mr Daniel Laryea, Head of Amartsewe Family of Ga Mashie, was determined.

The accused persons defied the order and assaulted public officers who were detailed to take photographs on damage caused on the disputed land.