Houseboy jailed 84 months for acid attack on SHS leaver

The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 27-year-old houseboy to 84 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for pouring acid on a senior high school leaver.

The court also ordered the convict, Ernest Agyei, to pay 500 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢6,000, as compensation to the victim, Benjamin Asante, a former student of Yamfo Anglican Secondary School in the Bono Region.

Agyei denied the offence but was found guilty after trial.

In passing sentence, the presiding judge, Isaac Apeatu, rejected the claim that the incident was accidental, citing evidence of an earlier confrontation between the convict and the victim.

The court held that tensions arose during a tile-cleaning exercise involving acid, following disagreements among those present.

Prosecution said Agyei showed no remorse and urged the Court to impose a deterrent sentence. Agyei pleaded for leniency.

Earlier, Chief Inspector Christian Amartey said the incident occurred on December 22, 2024, at Pakyi No. 2, where Agyei worked as a house help.

He said that during the cleaning exercise, the convict and Kwadwo Tawiah had an argument.

The Court heard that when the convict reported the matter to the complainant, the latter told Agyei that he did not want to interfere in the issue between him and Tawiah.

Chief Inspector Amartey said Agyei became offended and insulted Asante, leading to an exchange of words between them.

I’m the course of the confrontation, Agyei poured acid from a container on Asante, prosecution said, adding that Asante was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was admitted for three months.

Police investigations later led to Agyei’s arrest and prosecution.