Taxi driver remanded for alleged murder

Assin Foso (C/R), Aug. 7, GNA - Kweku Atta, a 28-year-old driver from Assin Nkran, who allegedly poured acid on his girlfriend resulting in her death, was on Monday arraigned at a district magistrate's court at Assin-Foso on a provisional charge of murder.

Atta, whose plea was not taken, was remanded to re-appear on Wednesday, August 30.

Prosecuting, ASP Akwasi Asafo-Agyei told the court presided over by Mr Joseph Blay that sometime in 2002, Atta befriended the deceased Akua Praba alias Sakina and they had a daughter.

He alleged that in the course of the relationship, a misunderstanding arose between the couple, who were living at Nkanfoa, near Cape Coast, during which Atta brutally assaulted and striped Praba naked in public.

He also alleged that as a result, Praba informed her parents about the incident, broke off the relationship with Atta and went to live with them at Assin-Ngresi.

ASP Asafo-Agyei further alleged that after attempts to make Praba reconcile with him failed, Atta went to Assin-Nkran, in the night of March 3 this year, sneaked into her room and poured acid on her. He said Praba sustained serious burns and was rushed to the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast, where she died soon after admission and that her three-year old daughter and another aged six, who were sleeping on the bed with her, were also injured.

He said Atta went into hiding, but was arrested four days later. In another development, Abu Sadick, a kente weaver from Assin Foso was on Monday convicted by the same court for abducting a 16-year-old girl.

Sadick, who pleaded guilty, was made to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months, or in default go to jail for six months. The prosecution told the court that sometime in 2002, Sadick befriended the victim who was then in school and managed to convince her to leave school and stay with him in his house.

It said after futile efforts to make the girl return to her house, the matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested.