Man jailed for slapping cop

The Abura Dunkwa Magistrate Court presided over by Madam Efuwa Wirenkyi on Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old farmer at Empiro, Isaac Blankson, aka Kwesi Essuon to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour for slapping the District Police Commander of the area, DSP Bernard Twum- Berimah.

He was charged with the offences of stealing, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Blankson pleaded guilty to the offences and was therefore sentenced to the Ankaful prisons.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector David Oppong said the complainant in the case is the DSP of the area.

He added that the incident occurred on April 11, 2014 about 4:00 pm when the police received a message that there was a motor accident at Empiro, a situation which compelled the complainant and his men to rush to the scene.

Chief Inspector Oppong stated that the complainant at the scene saw Blankson taking an umbrella and a bag containing personal effects of the accident victim, Madam Mildred Paintsiwah Acheampong.

The Chief Inspector added that DSP Twum-Berimah questioned Blankson as to where he was taking the items to and the accused person said the items belonged to him, being luggage he had taken from a vehicle he alighted from.

Chief Inspector Oppong told the court that DSP Twum-Berimah, who was not convinced with the answer, asked the accused to bring the bag back – a situation which infuriated the accused to give the DSP a dirty slap.

The Chief Inspector added that the accused person therefore took to his heels together with the bag and so the DSP and his men gave him a hot chase. The accused was arrested after he had thrown the bag away.

He stated that during his arrest, Blankson fiercely resisted but was overpowered and sent to the police station for interrogation and was later put before the court.