Pastor in court for damage, threat and theft

Asamankese, March 29, GNA - Agyenim Boateng, a pastor, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Asamankese Circuit Court charged with intentionally and unlawfully causing damage to a fence wall valued at GHC 860. Boateng, who doubles as a farmer, is also facing a charge of threatening to cut Ebenezer Asiamah Missah, the man whose fence he damaged, into pieces with a cutlass.

Additionally, pastor Boateng with two others, Emmanuel Ohene, musician and Kwabena Moses, a farmer, face a charge of stealing 50 Wawa boards valued at GHC 500 and 60 pieces of "four by four" boards valued at GHC 360, property of Missah.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on GHC 1,000 bail with a surety each to re-appear on April 19.

Police Inspector Francis Cobbina told the court that both the complainant and the accused lived at Akyem Abodom where they share a common boundary.

In 2000, Boateng reported to police that Missah's cattle had caused damage to his farm produce. Missah told the police that the portion in dispute belonged to him and the case was subsequently sent to the Asamankese Circuit Court. The ruling went in favour of Missah.

The prosecutor said from that time onwards, each time Missah left his house unknown persons would destroy part of the kraal thus allowing the cattle go out to destroy other people's farm produce. About two months ago, Missah saw Moses, a son of Boateng, in the act of destroying the fence of the kraal A report was made to the police but Moses could not be arrested and the case is still under investigation.

On January 14, the three accused persons removed the boards used in fencing the kraal and were seen by someone who informed Missah on phone. When he rushed to the scene he met the three men in the act and questioned Boateng as to what they were doing but he raised his cutlass and threatened to cut Missah into pieces should he dare to get nearer him. Missah then made a report to the police and the accused persons were arrested.