Accused turn interpreter in court

Tamale (Northern Region) 13 Oct '98 Drama unfolded at the Tamale circuit tribunal on Monday when an accused person in an assault case became the interpreter in another case involving a 60-year-old man, Yaw Kumwob, who spoke and understood only the Lobi language Dari Lorku, a teacher who was being tried in the same tribunal for assaulting a police officer and illegally possessing fire arms, however, opted to intervene and assist the court to proceed. Kumwob, who was charged with stealing a fowl belonging to Mr David Kawuro, a teacher and member of the Bale Unit Committee at Bale in the Bole district, was fined 20,000 cedis or in default three month's imprisonment in hard labour.

Kumwob, who pleaded guilty, was further bonded for 12 months to be of good behaviour or in default 12 months' imprisonment in hard labour. The chairman of the tribunal, Mr S.K. Teye, said the panel was rather surprised that at his age when he should have been serving as a role model, he was standing trial for stealing.

The prosecutor, Police Superintendent S.Y. Agorvie, told the tribunal that on 1st October, Kumwob took advantage of a funeral at Bale and stole the fowl belonging to Mr Kawuro.

The accused was arrested when he attempted selling the fowl to one Benson Ondor. GRi