Cop Woman Beater Freed – 3 More Charged

An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to the police officer standing trial for assaulting the Midland Savings and Loan customer.

The accused, Lance Corporal Fredrick Amanor Godzi who is before the court to answer charges of assault was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢60,000 with three sureties.

As part of the bail conditions, the sureties must be persons who are gainfully employed earning not less than GH¢500 a month.

This was after lawyers of the accused had taken turns to apply for bail for their respective clients.

3 Charged

Making his second appearance in a court presided over by Jane Akweley Quaye, yesterday, the state pressed fresh charges against the accused, this time around arraigning three more officers of the Savings and Loans Company over charges of abetment of assault.

They are: Jocelyn Kukua Fakah, Operations Manager, Shirley Portia Anaman, Customer Care Officer and Prince Ayensu, Driver.

The four have variously denied the charges.

It is the case of the prosecution that the policeman aka Skala on July 19 this year at Shiashie the assaulted the victim, Patience Sarfo, 36 with a baby.

Lance Corporal Amanor made headlines after a video recording capturing him assaulting Patience in the banking hall of the Midland Savings and loans company went viral on social media.

Frederick was seen pounding the head of the victim with an umbrella several times before resorting to slaps and punches of the woman who was still carrying her baby.

Not even the cry of the baby would deter the police officer from going ahead with his assault.

Bail

Kweku Adjei Lartey, lawyer for Fredrick, in applying for bail said he was fortified by Article 192 (c) of the 1992 Constitution which states that the accused person must be given fair hearing.

He said the accused is also presumed to be innocent until proven guilty or is found guilty.
Adjei Lartey, explained that the accused is a serving police officer who was on duty adding that “the accused person has expressed remorse and we wish to express same to the court and the complaint…He is prepared to stand trial and will not abscond.”

Quoting Section 73 of the Courts Act the lawyer noted that the court encourages out of court settlement in certain matters insisting that he has the instruction of his client to be given the opportunity to settle the case out of court.

Yaw Oppong, Lawyer for Jocelyn who the victim had approached for her money said his client is no way linked to the said crime.

Kennedy Effah and Irene Davis, lawyers for Shirley and Prince respectively also prayed the court for bail.

Facts

The facts of the case are that the complainant is a petty trader resident at Shiashie and a customer of Midland Savings and Loans Limited.

On July, 13, the complainant went to the Shiashie branch of Midland Savings and Loans to make a withdrawal, there were other customers so she joined the queue.

After some hours in the queue, the bank officials came to inform her that they were having network challenges so she should go and come on Monday.

On the said Monday July 16, Patience went to the bank and after waiting for several hours the same excuse was given to her, an excuse which continued anytime she went to the facility for her money.

According to the prosecution, on July 19, the victim went to the bank again at about 7:30am and waited till the bank opened on 9am, but after serving some people officials of the bank came with the same story saying anyone who has something doing could go and return at 12 midday.

Patience rather opted to stay in anticipation to get some money at 12pm but at 2pm the bank officials after attending to some customers asked the rest of them including Patience to go and come the next day.

Disappointed by the turn of events, the victim approached the bank official and explained her frustration and requested if they could give her GH¢100 to pay her debtors so that she can get something to feed her baby.

Two bank officials-Kukuua and Shelly instead called the accused to sack Patience from the banking hall who assaulted and dragged her out from the bank.

On the orders of the Inspector General of police the accused was arrested and admitted the offence in is caution statement.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson