Evangelist pleads for forgiveness

A KUMASI-based evangelist could not help going on his knees, pleading and weeping for forgiveness when he appeared before a Kumasi community tribunal on Tuesday, charged with offensive conduct tantamount to the breach of peace.

The accused, David Opoku, who is alleged to have poured invectives and unprintable insults on the President, the regional police command and the Asantehene during his public preachings in Kumasi, promised not to repeat his offensive behaviour.

The tribunal, however, granted him bail in the sum of ?1 million with two sureties to be justified.

Chief Inspector R. A. A. Larbi told the tribunal that Opoku was first arrested on September 15, 2000, for making similar remarks.

He said when he was given a police enquiry bail, Opoku wrote a letter to the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, apologising for his offensive behaviour.

Chief Inspector Larbi said while the police were studying the docket on the case, Opoku went back to the same spot and worsened his act by insulting President Rawlings, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the top brass of the police.

He is alleged to have accused the Asantehene and the Police of foolishly following President Rawlings and giving him bad advice.

According to the prosecutor, some NDC supporters who were on their way to a political rally apprehended Opoku and handed him over to the Police Buffalo Unit