Court orders "Jesus One Touch" to hospital

Accra, June 16, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday ordered that Nana Kofi Yirenkyi aka "Jesus One Touch", on trial for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter, should be taken to the hospital.

Yirenkyi on arrival at the court sat down and bowed his head until the case was called.

The accused who appeared limping on one leg, bowed his head even when the court offered him a seat.

When the trial judge, Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa asked if accused had a problem she was told he was sick.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Kwafo holding brief for Ms Helen Kwawukume, Chief State Attorney, said she only saw that the accused was sick in the courtroom and promised that the Police would take care of him. The trial judge said the health of the accused was paramount and therefore ordered the Police to send him to hospital. In the absence of accused's counsel, the matter was adjourned to July 9 by which time the High Court would have delivered its ruling on an appeal on a submission of no case put in by the accused. Yirenkyi, who is facing charges of defilement and incest, was to open his defence.

On May 4, this year the court ordered Yirenkyi, who is Founder and General Overseer of Jesus Blood Ministry International, based at Oblogo Manchester in Accra to open his defence after it ruled that he had a case to answer.

It stated that from the evidence adduced by the prosecution it was convinced that a prima facie case had been established against the accused and ordered him to open his defence.

The prosecution's case was that, the victim, who was born out of wedlock, lived with the complainant, Madam Bernice Owiredua Asamaa until 2005 when she left to live with the accused at McCarthy Hills in Accra to attend school.

Prosecution said between 2008 and 2009, accused started defiling the victim before every church service.

In November 2009, the accused granted an opportunity to the victim's mother to talk to her because she was putting up a bad behaviour. It was during the interaction that the victim revealed her ordeal to her mother. The victim was initially examined by a medical doctor and later transferred to the Police Hospital for further treatment. 16 June 10