AG takes over alleged incest case against "Jesus One Touch"

Accra, May 24, GNA - The Attorney General's Department has taken over the case of Nana Kofi Yirenkyi aka "Jesus One Touch", being tried for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter.

The case which was initially handled by the Police has now been taken over by Mrs Helen Kwawukume, a Senior State Attorney.

When the case was called on Monday, Nana Oye Lithur, a human rights activist of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, announced herself as an interested party in the matter.

Mr Paul Owusu, one of the counsels for the accused, together with the state attorney, agreed that the matter be adjourned to June 1. Meanwhile, an application to stay proceedings at the Circuit Court, is pending on an appeal at the High Court.

Jesus One Touch, who was to open his defence on Tuesday, May 11, disclosed this through his counsel saying he would proceed to the High Court.

He was appealing against an Accra Circuit Court's ruling ordering him to open his defence.

Appearing before the Court on that day, Mr K.N. Adomako Acheampong, one of his counsels, said that they were not going to open their defence because they had appealed against the court's ruling in a submission of no case on Tuesday, May 4.

He said they were in the process of filing the necessary documents at the High Court and were optimistic that by Friday, May 14, the matter would be heard.

According to Mr. Acheampong, when they obtained proceedings from the Circuit court, there were omissions for which they ought to cross-check with the court's clerks.

He said: "Procedurally, we have filed stay of proceedings pending an appeal and in that circumstance we pray for an adjournment so we could also put our house in order".

Mr. Acheampong said "Though in custody, we are prepared to suffer for the right thing to be done". On May 4, this year the Circuit Court ordered Nana Yirenkyi to open his defence.

This followed the court's ruling on a submission of no case filed by Nana Yirenkyi, Founder and General Overseer of Jesus Blood Ministry International, at Oblogo Manchester before the court. It stated that from the evidence adduced by prosecution it was convinced that a prima facie case had been made against the accused and ordered him to open his defence.

On April 26, this year, the prosecution closed its case after calling eight witnesses and the defence declared its intention to file a submission of no case.

Accused, who has pleaded not guilty to incest and defilement, has been remanded in Police custody. The prosecution's case was that, the victim, who was born out of wedlock, lived with the complainant, Madam Bernice Owiredua Asamaa, until 2005 when she left to live with the accused at McCarthy Hills in Accra to attend school.

Prosecution said between 2008 and 2009, accused started defiling the victim before every church service. In November 2009, the accused granted an opportunity to the victim's mother to talk to her because she was putting up a bad behaviour. It was during the interaction that the victim revealed her ordeal to the complainant. The victim was initially examined by a medical doctor and later transferred to the Police Hospital for further treatment. 24 May 10