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Accused murderer arraigned after 10 years on remand
Kumasi, Aug. 26, Ghanadot/GNA
– A 37-year old farm hand, accused of murder and kept at the
Kumasi Central Prisons on remand since 1999 has at long last
appeared before a Kumasi High Court.
Eliasu Soma is accused of murdering a 12-year old daughter
of his employer at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
The Court presided over by the Mr Justice Frank Amoah, a
Supervising High Court Judge, currently hearing cases right
inside the Kumasi prison, however adjourned the case to
today, Wednesday August 26, for all the relevant documents
to be assembled.
The Presiding Judge ordered that the prisoner be transferred
to Ejura and held in police custody due to his failing
health.
According to the facts sheet, Soma was employed by one
Issifu Alhassan to work on his farm at Ejura.
Some time in 1999, Issifu sent the deceased and her younger
sister to carry food to the accused whilst working on the
farm.
After he had eaten the meal and was relaxing, the 12-year
girl was said to have hit Soma with a stick and he became
infuriated, got hold of his machete and hacked her to death.
The deceased’s younger sister ran home to inform the father
and a formal complaint was made to the police, leading to
his arrest and detention.
The hearing of cases by the High Court in the prison is part
of the “Justice for All” programme, a collaborative effort
by the Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Service, Police and
the Prisons Service to help decongest the country’s prisons.
In all 52 cases involving prisoners, whose warrants had
expired have been listed to be heard.
This is the third of the series of prison court sittings to
be held in the country. The earlier ones were carried out at
the James Town Prisons in Accra and the Nsawam Medium
security Prisons in the Eastern Region.
GNA
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