Quinquagenarian remanded in police custody

The Enchi District Magistrate court has remanded a fifty-four-year-old farmer, into police custody for allegedly carrying offensive weapon.

Mannah Kofi Nzole, pleaded guilty with explanation to carrying offensive weapon but not guilty to drumming with the intent to insult, and abetment of crime to wit: assault on a public officer.

He would re-appear before the court on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant Joseph Kwadwo Agyare told the court, that the complainant, Nana Beyeeman Tano Kwaw Benhuin III, paramount chief of Aowin Traditional Area in the Western North Region.

He said the accused is the leader of a faction of Annor Asemah Oyoko royal family who opposed to the installation of the complainant as the paramount chief.

He said on June 5, 2019, in the early hours of the day Enchi District Police Command received a report from the complainant that the accused person's faction had gathered at a section of Adumline close to Nana Benhuin III palace in Enchi and was playing drums in preparation for the burial of their relative in the royal cemetery, which the complainant had earlier objected to.

According to the prosecution, based on the information, the District Police Commander, Superintendent Samuel Sandow Latebu led a team of police personnel to the place to maintain peace, law and order.

He said when Superintendent Latebu and his men arrived at the scene the accused together with some members of his family had laid the deceased in state and were playing traditional drums which were allowed only on a special occasion with approval from the traditional authorities.

The prosecution said further intelligence gathered by the police indicated that the paramount chief's supporters were also threatening to mount an attack on the accused's faction if the bury goes into effect at the royal cemetery.

He said in the course of the police intervention, those who were with the accused attacked and assaulted General Lance Corporal Stephen Mawode and in the process snatched his rifle magazine containing 10 ammunitions and bolted.

Detective Agyare said the police seized three traditional drums and apprehended Nzole with a sheathed knife on him.

He said at 0725 hours on the same day, the prosecution said the stolen magazine was found lying at the back of the accused person's residence.