Prophet Jehu-Appiah opens defence

Agona Swedru, July 16, GNA - Nana Pinion Kojo Koomson, Twafohene of Mozano on Tuesday, told a Swedru High Court that the alleged defilement charge preffered against Prophet Dr Jonah Jehu-Appiah, Head of the Musama Disco Christo Church was fabricated

He said about two and half years ago, a messenger was sent to Breman Essiam in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District to tell him that the Prophet wanted to see him at the headquarters of the Church at Mozano. Nana Koomson who was testifying for the Prophet him told the Court presided over by Justice Senyo Dzemafe, that when he got to Mozano he met Nana H K Baah, Gyasehene of the Church and told him about a newspaper publication that the Prophet had defiled a teenager. He told the court that the Late Nana Kwkeu Appiah, Chief of Mozano also informed him the next morning about the publication c and stated that he was going to set up a five-member-committee to oversee the activities of the Church.

Nana Koomson, who was led in evidence by the defence counsel, said the committee proposed to overthrow the head of the Church because of the defilement case in the newspapers.

He said that Mr Kwame Afful, a member of the committee and others met the people of the town and the family of the Prophet and told them that Prophet Jehu-Appiah had been overthrown as head of the church and a sheep was slaughtered.

He said a meeting was held at Winneba where the committee proposed that because the Prophet had been defiling small girls, they should frame him up and that if he was jailed, then they could overthrow him as leader of the church.

He said they proposed that 30 million cedis should be given to the officer in charge of the Women and Juvenile Unit of the Police (WAJU) and five million cedis to the victim and four million cedis to the girls' family.

Nana Koomson told the court that they suggested again that four million cedis should be paid to Prophet Kojo Amoafo who prophesied the destoolment of the Prophet while one Asumadu was also given four million cedis for the services of a "good lawyer" to defend the committee members should the case go to court.

According to Nana Koomson, the committee members also proposed that they should use the Church money to pay the "bribes".

He said the committee members sent for him again but he refused to go to Mozano, adding that, it there that he detected that the story had been fabricated and that the girl was going to be influenced with money. He said that he realised then that he had been stupid in joining the "falsehood group" and so he wrote to the committee withdrawing from it. During cross-examination by Mr Adumah Bossman, Counsel for the plaintiff Nana Koomson said that on July 10, 1996, he was caught having sex with Obaa Yaa, a daughter of one of the Pries during the celebration of the Peace Festival of the church According to the counsel the matter was reported to the elders of the church and Nana Koomson left the church.

The counsel of the plaintiff said when the Prophet was pardoned he invited Nana Koomson back to the church, adding that, this was the reason why he was giving evidence in favour of Prophet Jehu-Appiah. The case had been adjourned to 21 July 2005.