Fulani Headsman gets 48 months each

Two Fulani headsmen, Messrs Sidibe Seidu -28 and Issa Mumuni-32 were on 8th May, 2007 sentenced to 48 months imprisonment each with hard labour by the Techiman circuit court for stealing three cows estimated at ¢13.5 at Nkramokrom Feteh near Aworowa in the Techiman municipality of Brong Ahafo region.

The accused persons who pleaded guilty were sentenced according to their own plea. They earlier asked for leniency and attributed their act to the devil but were turned down by the presiding judge.

Prosecuting, P.A Tetteh told the packed court presided over by Justice G.K Kwasi Kumah that the incident occurred on 30th April, 2007 after the two had contacted one Bugger at the Techiman cattle kraal that they have at their disposal three cows of which they intended to sell them. Without hesitation, Bugger considering their mood accompanied them. P.A Tetteh told the court that after mutual negotiations at the accused persons village they arrived at ¢13.5m, adding that out of this amount the buyer agreed to offer a part payment of ¢500,000 and promised to pay the remaining sum the next day.

He said the two men heads 62 cows belonging to the Brong Ahafo regional director of education, Akua Akubuor Debrah and it was during one of their routine pasture rounds that they decided to hatch that ploy. The police officer mentioned that news got to the complainant in Sunyani that three of her cows are no where to be found. The complainant who could not withstand the news quickly lodged complaint to the Techiman police. Upon a tip off the police detected that the Fulani headsmen were behind the ploy.

Meanwhile, Bugger who earlier thought he had the cows from the right persons went to their village on 1st May, 2007 to pay the remaining amount. It was the same period that the police team had also been to the place to interrogate with the accused persons. The heads men were arrested, detained, charged with the offense and arraigned before court. Presenting the judgment the presiding judge said the sentence will go a long way to serve as a deterrent to headsmen who have adopted the habit of selling peoples cows with their knowledge.