Bukom Banku trial for October

Parties in the assault case brought against popular boxer Briamah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku, are set to appear before the Accra Central District Magistrate Court on October 6, 2016, for the trial to begin.

The parties for the second time yesterday were left with the option of a mutual adjournment because there was still no judge to hear the case.

The substantive judge scheduled to hear it is among five magistrates recently promoted to the circuit court.

Bukom Banku’s lawyer, Jerry Avenorgbor and the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Robert Gyanfi, last week agreed to start the case on Monday, which turned out to be a public holiday.

Earlier, state prosecutors had claimed that they could not find Bukom Banku to serve him the criminal sermons to appear before the court.

The plaintiff, Martha Nelson, has dragged Bukom Banku before the court over alleged slaps and punches she received from the accused on August 11, this year after she had reportedly turned down his request for a kiss.

The accused is also expected to answer charges of causing damage to a Nokia mobile phone valued at GH¢40 belonging to Martha.

The boxer, who has gained notoriety for public misconduct, has always received political protection from the ‘powers-that-be,’ having openly identified himself as an activist of the governing party, making him untouchable.

This is not the first time Bukom Banku has been reported for allegedly assaulting women.

In March this year, the Accra Regional Police Command arrested him for allegedly assaulting three ladies after one of them had reportedly rejected his request for sex.

He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 with two sureties.

In January last year, Bukom Banku was arrested for allegedly inflicting physical harm on some persons after a disagreement at the ‘Kpashimo’ procession at Gbese, also in Accra.

In the latest case, sources say at about 2:40 pm on August 11, this year, Banku went to Martha’s hairdressing salon, held her and requested that she kiss him.

Martha was said to have resisted his proposal and without any cause, Banku purportedly slapped her twice and punched her in the right ribs.

Banku then reportedly collected the complainant’s Nokia phone and hit it on the ground, causing damage to it.

The accused is quoted as having told Martha that her phone was inferior and that he would buy her a Galaxy phone and left the scene.