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Three members of Yewe Cult before court on charges of
stripping naked a nursing mother
Aflao, July 15, GNA - An Aflao Circuit Court has remanded
three members of the Yewe cult, at Adrume and Dekpor, near
Dzodze in the Volta Region who in a trial by ordeal detained
a nursing mother in the shrine overnight, denied her access
to her baby, stripped her naked and indecently assaulted her
in public in police custody.
The court presided over by Group-Captain Justice Martin
Obeng-Ntim (rtd) also ordered the arrest of six others
including Dali Kushitor 80, Chief Priest of the cult at
Dekpor and his five assistants for prosecution.
The pleas of Midao Avorkpo, Cult Priest of Adrume, his wife,
Bosu Agbeko 48, and her brother Hedey Avorkpo 54, were not
taken and would re-appear on Friday, July 20..
They were charged with conspiracy, assault, indecent assault
and causing unlawful harm.
Police Inspector Josephine Azukah, prosecuting told the
court, that Midao and Hedey are brothers-in-law to the
victim Rejoice Atisey, 33, a petty trader resident at Adrume
with her husband and the accused persons.
She said sometime this year, Atisey was engaged in a quarrel
with Bosu, wife of Midao at Adrume during which Atisey
allegedly used filthy language against Bosu, considered a
taboo for members of the cult.
Police Inspector Azukah said as a result of the alleged
insults, Bosu vacated her house into the bush and was to
return only after cleansing rites and the cult pacified by
Atisey.
She said Bosu belonged to the Dekpor cult, presided over by
Kushitor, who consequently summoned Atisey before some
chiefs for the matter to be resolved and have her pacified
the gods for Bosu to return home but she (Atisey) failed to
attend.
Police Inspector Azuka said in a show of his authority,
Kushitor sent his assistants during midnight on April 11,
this year to forcibly bring Atisey from Adrume to his shrine
at Dekpor.
She said the assistants including women who found Atisey in
bed subjected her to beatings, stripped her naked and
dragged her in her nude to Depkor, denying her access to her
eight months old baby until the police stormed the shrine
and rescued her at about 0800 hours the following morning
after a report by her husband.
The prosecution said while in the captivity of the shrine,
the group occasionally tortured Atisey.
She said Francis Avorkpo, Atisey's husband was beaten when
he objected to the treatment being meted out to his wife in
an attempt to rescue her, later the matter was reported to
the police and the accused persons arrested and after
investigations charged with the offence.
Police Inspector Azuka said Atisey and her husband
identified the accused persons, including those yet to be
arrested as among the large group of people involved in the
act.
Madam Atisey who narrated her ordeal in tears to the court
said Kushitor pulled out her hair and in addition butting
her head several times.
GNA
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