‘Cop-Beater’ Charged

A-45-year old soldier has been hauled before an Accra Central District Court for assaulting a police officer on duty.

The accused, Sergeant Seth Alloryttoh is said to have punched Chief Inspector Samuel Donyoh of the National Highway Patrol team while on duty in his left eye.

According to the prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector Simon Apoirsornu, Samuel incurred the wrath of the soldier when he questioned why he was protecting some people winning sand on a parcel of land at Apollonia in Accra on May 9, this year.

Charged with assault of a public officer the military man attached to the 492 Squadron in Tema in a court presided over by Gloria Naa Botor Laryea, denied the change.

He was subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of GH₵7,000 with two sureties who must be gainfully employed.

Although the case was heard in chambers, the facts of the case are that between the months of January and April this year, the police recorded several attacks on its personnel by members of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Rear Admiral M.  Beck Baffour issued guidelines to curb the clashes between police and military personnel.

On May 9, Samuel was in charge seven men on a patrol team along the Apollonia city stretch and that at about 4:30pm his men had information that some group of people were winning sand the Apollonia City Centre and proceeded to the scene.

At the scene, Seth who according to the police fact sheet was fully dressed in military uniform and also doubled as a land guard to the sand winners confronted Samuel and his men who demanded to know why they were on the site.

“In the process, the accused person attempted to use his mobile phone to snap pictures of the complainant but complainant declined to be captured.

This infuriated the accused person and he gave a hefty blow to the complainant on his left eye and blood started oozing profusely”.

Seth then took to his heels but was apprehended and handed over to the police and in his caution, statement admitted the offence.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson