Five in court for alleged destruction of property in Katamanso

Five persons have appeared in the Accra High Court for allegedly vandalizing properties on six hectares of land in Katamanso, Greater Accra.

The suspect allegedly damaged an unfinished three-bedroom house, a two-bedroom house, five thousand cement blocks, a block factory, three single rooms and fence walls.

They are Emmanuel. Nii Adjei Akpor, a 30-year-old engineer; Nii Amarlai Mensah Botchway, 44, a secretary; Nii Laryea, Nii Ayi, a 38-year-old businessman; and Adjetey Anum, 62, a driver.

The suspects are charged with conspiracy to commit an offence, causing unlawful damage and trespass.

The court, presided over by Mr. Bright Samuel Acquah, did not accept their pleas.

The judge granted them bail of GH¢100,000 each, with two sureties, to appear on May 8, 2024 for their pleas to be heard.

According to Chief of Police Augustine Yirenkyi, the prosecutor in charge, the complainants in the case are Dr. Ellis Fielscher Djoleto, a doctor living in Tema.

The other complainants are Prince Donkor Yeboah, a military officer living in Medina; Brain Asare, a businessman living in Kokomlemle; Emmanuel Kwei Afortey, a traditional ruler living in Katamanso; Patience Mensah, a nurse residing in Amanfro and Alex Abukum, a businessman also residing in Adenta.

The prosecution said Emmanuel Nii Adjei Akpor, Nil Amarlai Mensah Botchway and Nii Laryea, the first, second and third suspects, reside in Adenta, while Nii Ayi and Adjetey Anum, the fourth and fifth suspects, reside in La in Accra.

The court heard that the complainants acquired the land in 2020 from Nil Laryea Afortey Agbo, the regent of Katamanso.

They were given contracts and had taken possession of the various plots of land.

The prosecutor said complainants had built unfinished houses and fence walls on the land.

On March 15, 2024, Nii Laryea, the third suspect, wrote a letter to the Regional Police Command in Accra, stating that he was the family head of the Okantsum family and needed police assistance to clear a family land in New Amanfro.

The prosecutor said that Afortey, one of the complainants who lived on the property and owned a block factory, woke up in the morning of April 13, 2024, and discovered that the suspect had illegally entered the country with two bulldozers and two police patrol cars.

The suspect ordered the bulldozer drivers to demolish the buildings on the site.

Afortey confronted Nii Laryea and Nii Ayi about the destruction, but the defendants ignored him and proceeded to demolish the complainant’s property, along with the fence walls, without any court order.

The court heard that the police command allowed the suspect two police patrol teams to vacate the land.

The Prosecution explained that on the said date, the patrol teams led the suspects into the country.

However, the prosecutor stated that upon arrival, police discovered that it was not land clearing, but demolition of property without a court order.

The prosecutor said police advised the suspect to seek redress in court, but the suspect ignored the police, and Nii Laryea and Nii Ayi ordered the bulldozer drivers to demolish the structures on the land.

There is said to be a misunderstanding between the complainants, the suspect and some witnesses.

The prosecutor said police arrested both parties and took them to the regional headquarters in Accra for further investigation.

During investigations, it was discovered that the suspect managed to demolish unfinished structures on approximately six hectares of land in Amanfro without a court order, and the value of the structures was unknown.

The prosecutor said efforts are being made to arrest other accomplices.

Source: GNA