Drama unfolded at the Abura Dunkwa Magistrate Court, presided over by Madam Efuwa Wirenkyi yesterday when supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the area invaded the courtroom to support two of the eight heavily built men, popularly known as ‘machomen’ who allegedly assaulted the constituency chairman of the party, Christopher Akutsu, on Friday.
The supporters, wearing black and red apparels, claimed their government was in power and that any attempt by the magistrate to jail the two would result in mayhem.
Their action compelled the outgoing District Police Commander, DSP Bernard Twum Berimah, to dispatch armed security personnel to the place to ensure peace and order.
The accused, Theophilus Amos and Isaac Afatsi, who were arrested by the Abura Dunkwa District Police Command on Sunday, were released on bail Monday and appeared before the court yesterday.
They were charged with assault and stealing and granted bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 each with two sureties each to re-appear on May 27, 2014, while a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the rest of the hoodlums.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Arthur said the suspects on Friday brutally assaulted Mr. Akutsu, tearing his trousers and shirt into shreds without any provocation.
Prosecution hinted that in the process of the assault, the accused took Mr. Akutsu’s mobile phone and an amount of GH¢5,800 which he was going to use in paying his workers.
Chief Inspector Arthur stated that the incident happened at the premises of the District Assembly.
He added that the Chairman was left wearing his boxer’s shorts as he tried to cover his nakedness with the torn clothes.
The prosecutor disclosed that the Chairman, who had a swollen face and neck with some bruises on the body, reported the matter to the Abura Dunkwa police where he was issued with a medical form to seek treatment at the Abura Dunkwa Government Hospital.
It would be recalled that DAILY GUIDE in its Monday edition published a story with the headline, “NDC Chairman Stripped Naked,” and indicated that some ‘machomen’ brutally assaulted the Chairman.
The story further stated that the men were sent by a top NDC man (name withheld) to deal with the Chairman since the latter had been instigating the assembly members to cause the removal of the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Atta Mends.
The story added that the action of the ‘machomen’ had compelled a some members of the party to quit if nothing was done about it, since they could not sit down to watch people dragging the name of the party into disrepute.