A galamsey operator at Bompieso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality has been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour by the Tarkwa District Court One for slashing a student twice on the back with a blade.
The convict, Bismark Owusu, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unlawful harm and was accordingly convicted.
Prosecuting, Inspector Patrick Essien told the court, presided over by Charles Owusu Nsiah, that the complainant, Bright Akwasi Aboagye, is a student residing at Bompieso.
According to the prosecution, on October 7 at about 12:00 noon, the complainant was riding a tricycle with one Ishmael on board when they came upon a group of illegal miners assaulting a young man accused of stealing gold-bearing stones.
Inspector Essien said Owusu was among the group beating the suspected thief.
When the complainant intervened and struck one of the attackers in an attempt to stop the assault, the illegal miners became displeased and ordered him to leave the scene.
The court heard that Owusu later took offence at the complainant’s action and attempted to fight him and Ishmael, but they were separated and went their separate ways.
Later the same day, while the complainant and Ishmael were at a game centre, Owusu confronted them again and warned that the earlier incident was not over.
Inspector Essien told the court that Owusu subsequently attacked the complainant, slashing him twice on the back with a blade before fleeing when the victim began bleeding profusely.
Residents who rushed to the scene rushed the complainant to the Bompieso Clinic for medical treatment, after which the incident was reported to the police. Owusu was arrested the same day and handed over for prosecution.
The court, after considering the facts and Owusu’s plea, sentenced him to one year in prison with hard labour.
