Teshie Cemetry Crash: Court grants six bail

An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday granted bail to six persons who allegedly conspired and caused harm to one Nii Ashiboye Mensah and threatened to cut off his head.

Joseph Ashikwei Tijany, Daniel Ahitei Okoe, Michael Ashiboye Armah, Philip Boye, Nii Armah Agbeko and Nii Agoe Kaastso, pleaded not guilty to the offences and were granted bail in the sum of Ghc90,000 with four sureties each, to reappear on July 10.

They were charged with conspiracy to commit crime, causing harm and threat of harm.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Jubiok Michaels told the court that the complainant is a driver and lives at Teshie Camp 2 while all the accused persons are drivers except Michael, who is a businessman and lives at Teshie Bush Road.

He said recently, the Acting Dzasetse of Lenshie quarter popularly known as Nii Jerry passed on, and during his funeral arrangement, a faction of the same Lenshie quarter headed by Nii Kwabotwe were not in agreement that the deceased should be buried at the Royal Mausoleum Cemetery at Teshie.

The prosecution said this brought about confusion between the two factions in the community, prompting Ledzokuku/Krowor Municipal Security Council to hold a meeting on April 24 with the two factions.

He said during the deliberations, Nii Agoe threatened to cut off the head of the complainant if he dare step foot at the cemetery to dig any grave for the burial of the late Acting Dzasetse.

The meeting, the prosecution said, ended abruptly without a concrete decision.

Police Chief Inspector Michaels said at about 0730 hours on April 25, the complainant had a telephone call from a group of young men who were detailed to dig the grave of the deceased that some people from the Nii Kwabotwe faction had come to attack them at the cemetery.

He said the complainant quickly rushed to the scene and met Nii Armah standing on the wall of the cemetery and engaged him in a conversation to convince him to halt the attack.

The prosecution told the court that while the complainant and Nii Armah were arguing on the issue, the complainant entered the cemetery to have a look at what was going on.

He said Joseph, Daniel, Michael and Philip struggled with the complainant’s men over their digging tools.

Police Chief Inspector Michaels said when the complainant got closer to where they were struggling, Joseph emerged behind him and slashed him with a kitchen knife on the neck, and he sustained a deep cut from the back of his neck to the throat.

He said Nii Armah then came to the complainant’s aid and tied the wound with the complainant’s shirt and that of another person.

Prosecution said Nii Armah then rushed him to the hospital for treatment, but the complainant was admitted and later discharged.

The prosecution said the accused persons were later arrested on May 19.