FARMER ARRESTED FOR SLASHING SUSPECT (PAGE 44)

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,Kwesimintsim

THE Kwesimintsim police have placed a 27-year-old farmer in custody for inflicting machete wounds on a 39-year-old man who had gone to the bush to collect mushrooms.
Robert Ansah, the suspect, was said to have accused his victim, Kwesi Ayah, of stealing game from his trap.
Ayah, who suffered deep machete wounds on both hands, neck, chest and forehead, was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital unconscious.
With blood stains on him, Ansah was said to have reported to the Kwesimintsim police that he had “butchered” a game thief.
The District Police Commander, Mr M. R. Sam, told the Daily Graphic that Ansah claimed that the purported thief engaged him in a “cutlass” fight after Ayah resisted arrest.
He said the police were surprised that Ansah did not sustain any injury from the fight and, therefore, decided to interrogate him further.
On his hospital bed, Ayah denied stealing any game.
He said he was returning home after collecting mushrooms when Ansah accused him of stealing his game.
Ayah said before he could let his sack down for a search, Ansah pulled a machete to slash his hands, head and neck.
He alleged that Ansah went to a nearby bush, brought a grasscutter for him (Ayah) to carry it to the town as a thief.
He said when he refused, Ansah started slashing him again and threatened to kill and bury him in the bush.
“I collected the game and on the way to the town I became unconscious and fell, I only became conscious to realise that I am in hospital.”