Four in court for taking over late Assemblyman’s property
Four persons have been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly harassing a widow and taking over her late husband’s property at Pokuase in Accra.
The four: Cecilia Abutu aka Agumpaka, Akua Asantewaa, Issah Atinga aka Baba Atambila and Joseph Agumbere Abutu are being held for unlawfully interfering with the use of properties of a deceased.
Joseph and Cecilia are being additionally held for economic and verbal abuse respectively.
They have denied the charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 each with two sureties each.
The court presided over by Mrs. Rita Abrokwah Doko has ordered all the accused persons to vacate the premises of the deceased house since they had their fixed places of abode before the demise of their relation, pending the final determination of the case.
They are expected to reappear on May 10.
Prosecuting, Sergeant Opoku Aniagyei said Cecilia is a 72-year-old trader and a sister in law, Asantewaa is a 35-year-old trader and niece to the complainant‘s late husband.
He said Issah Atinga is a 72-year-old security man and an uncle to the deceased while Joseph is a 24-year-old student and a nephew to deceased.
Prosecution said the complainant is a 33-year-old unemployed widow residing at Pokuase.
According to the prosecution, the complainant was married to Amos Atindare Abutu, a deceased Assemblyman for Pokuase, Abenso and had a child who is a year and seven-months old.
The prosecution said during the month of September, last year, the complainant lost her husband and he was buried at Pokuase and final funeral rites was performed at Bolgatanga.
Prosecution said Cecilia and Asantewaa who were residing at Kete- Krachi in the Volta Region and Lapaz in Accra respectively came to reside in the house of their relation after his demise.
They also took over the property and they have been harassing the complainant on daily basis.
The Prosecution said Cecilia who is the biological sibling of the deceased failed to attend the final funeral rites in Bolgatanga with the excuse that she would be taking care of the house.
He said based on that Cecilia team up with her other relations and they collected rent advance from two tenants in the house.
The Prosecution said Issah who is the head of family and the administrator of the deceased property, took over a communication centre owned by the deceased and failed to render accounts.
He said on January 25, this year, when the complainant returned from Bolgatanga she made attempt to get the accused persons out of the house but to no avail.
He said the complainant therefore reported the matter to the Police at Pokuase and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit where the accused persons were invited.
Mr Aniagyei said on February 18, this year some Community Police Assistants (CPA) at Pokuase Police Station were asked to serve Cecilia with some documents but she verbally abused the complainant that she was a prostitute and a witch who has killed her late brother and wanted to take over all his property.
Source: GNA