January 20th set to rule on "Jesus One Touch" incest case

Accra, Dec. 14, GNA - The Accra Circuit Court hearing the alleged incest case against Nana Kofi Yirenkyi, also known as "Jesus One Touch", Founder and General Overseer of Jesus Blood Ministry, on Tuesday slated January 20, 2011 for ruling.

Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa, Presiding Judge announced the date after prosecution completed its cross-examination of the defence's last witness. Mr K.N. Adomako Nyantakyi, Lead defence counsel, said they would file their addresses by December 24, while Mrs Helen Kwawukume, Chief State Attorney agreed to file the prosecution's reply by January 13, 2011. Mrs Kwawukume, continuing her cross-examination of Police Inspector Mohammed Ali Balah, Station Officer of Akropong Divisional Criminal Investigative Department (CID) and defence's last witness, tendered a copy of the Service Instructions for Policemen, Diary of Actions and the Case Docket from Akropong.

She read out to the witness portions of the Service Instructions outlining the duties of a Station Officer with respect to the station diaries, which stated that the station officer must record all occurrences in the diary.

Police Inspector Balah answered that his station was a divisional CID office and entries into the diary were done by station orderlies. She then read out another portion that stated that the station officer must inspect the diary at least once every 24 hours and personally enters any writing to that effect. Witness answered that he always inspected the diary and knew everything that went on at the station. Mrs Kwawukume also read out two entries in the diary of actions from Akropong and asked the witness whether there was any other entry in the diary with respect to the case. Police Inspector Balah said he could not tell unless he referred to the diary.

"I put it to you that those are the only entries about the case in the diary," Mrs Kwawukume said. She stated that the witness had never been present at any confrontation between the suspect, complainant and the Divisional Commander of Akropong Divisional CID, DCOP Ayim, as he claimed that the accused said that one Efo had confessed to him (accused) that he fingered the victim. However, the witness maintained that there was no confrontation but a forum where the Commander was trying to find out the truth of the matter. Prosecution said the accused was brought before the Akropong Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) for defilement and not fingering.

She challenged why the witness had chosen to be the independent witness when statements of the accused and his wife were taken, adding that it was not necessary for him (witness) to do so since he claimed to have contributed to preparing the docket.

Prosecution closed their cross examination and witness was discharged after the defence declined to re-examine him. "Jesus One Touch" is being accused of allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter. He has pleaded not guilty and placed in Police custody. The prosecution's case was that the victim, was born out of wedlock, and 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.

It 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 practitioner and later transferred to the Police Hospital for further treatment.