Four farmers remanded for murder

Mampong (Ash), July 23, GNA- Four farmers at Asempanwu near Nsuta in Ashanti have been remanded in prison custody by the Agona Magistrate's court for allegedly beating up one Madam Maadom Frafra to death on suspicion that she was a witch.

Two other women, Madam Fati Mamprusi, 28 and Agule Konkonba, 30, all farmers at Asempanwu, who were assaulted for the same reason, fell into coma, but were later resuscitated at Nsuta Polyclinic and had since been discharged.

They are, Nazu Kurugu, 35, John Balcalm, 35, Nasa Bimbabo, 47, the Odikro of the area and the fourth person, whose name was only mentioned as Kinabu, 42, all farmers.

Their pleas were not taken.

Chief Superintendent Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, told the court that three children belonging to different parents allegedly died in mysterious circumstances at Asempanwu in June, this year. According to the prosecution, the parents of the children consulted two soothsayers to know the main cause of the death. He said the soothsayers, who were only mentioned as Naadey and Achemu, mentioned the deceased Maadom, Agule Konkonba and Fati Mamprusi, as those who spiritually killed the children.

The prosecution said the alleged witches who were made to accept responsibility of the children's death, were in July 2, asked to bring unspecified fowls to a shrine for pacification which they obliged. He said thereafter, the soothsayers and seven others including the four already remanded, pounced on the women and beat them until Maadom died. The assailants then acquired a land from the Odikro of the area, Nasa Bimbabo and buried the woman the same day.

He said the Odikro, who later heard of the circumstances that led to Madam Maadom's death, reported the case to the Mampong police and the accused and the Odikro were arrested on July 12.