Three members of Yewe Cult before court

Aflao, July 15, GNA - An Aflao Circuit Court has remanded three members of the Yewe cult, at Adrume and Dekpor, near Dzodze in the Volta Region who in a trial by ordeal detained a nursing mother in the shrine overnight, denied her access to her baby, stripped her naked and indecently assaulted her in public in police custody. The court presided over by Group-Captain Justice Martin Obeng-Ntim (rtd) also ordered the arrest of six others including Dali Kushitor 80, Chief Priest of the cult at Dekpor and his five assistants for prosecution.

The pleas of Midao Avorkpo, Cult Priest of Adrume, his wife, Bosu Agbeko 48, and her brother Hedey Avorkpo 54, were not taken and would re-appear on Friday, July 20..

They were charged with conspiracy, assault, indecent assault and causing unlawful harm.

Police Inspector Josephine Azukah, prosecuting told the court, that Midao and Hedey are brothers-in-law to the victim Rejoice Atisey, 33, a petty trader resident at Adrume with her husband and the accused persons.

She said sometime this year, Atisey was engaged in a quarrel with Bosu, wife of Midao at Adrume during which Atisey allegedly used filthy language against Bosu, considered a taboo for members of the cult. Police Inspector Azukah said as a result of the alleged insults, Bosu vacated her house into the bush and was to return only after cleansing rites and the cult pacified by Atisey.

She said Bosu belonged to the Dekpor cult, presided over by Kushitor, who consequently summoned Atisey before some chiefs for the matter to be resolved and have her pacified the gods for Bosu to return home but she (Atisey) failed to attend.

Police Inspector Azuka said in a show of his authority, Kushitor sent his assistants during midnight on April 11, this year to forcibly bring Atisey from Adrume to his shrine at Dekpor.

She said the assistants including women who found Atisey in bed subjected her to beatings, stripped her naked and dragged her in her nude to Depkor, denying her access to her eight months old baby until the police stormed the shrine and rescued her at about 0800 hours the following morning after a report by her husband. The prosecution said while in the captivity of the shrine, the group occasionally tortured Atisey.

She said Francis Avorkpo, Atisey's husband was beaten when he objected to the treatment being meted out to his wife in an attempt to rescue her, later the matter was reported to the police and the accused persons arrested and after investigations charged with the offence. Police Inspector Azuka said Atisey and her husband identified the accused persons, including those yet to be arrested as among the large group of people involved in the act. Madam Atisey who narrated her ordeal in tears to the court said Kushitor pulled out her hair and in addition butting her head several times. 15 July 07