27-year-old houseboy sentenced to seven years in Pakyi No. 2, Ashanti Region

The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 27-year-old houseboy to 84 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for pouring acid on a senior high school leaver at Pakyi No. 2 in the Ashanti Region.

The court also directed the convict, Ernest Agyei, to pay 500 penalty units, amounting to GH¢6,000, as compensation to the victim, Benjamin Asante, a former student of Yamfo Anglican Secondary School in the Bono Region.

Agyei denied the charge but was convicted after a full trial.

In delivering the sentence, the presiding judge, Mr Isaac Apeatu, dismissed Agyei’s claim that the incident was accidental, pointing to evidence of an earlier confrontation between the convict and the victim. The court found that tension had built up during a tile cleaning exercise involving acid, after disagreements among those present.

The prosecution said Agyei showed no remorse and asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence, while the convict appealed for leniency.

Earlier, Chief Inspector Christian Amartey told the court that the incident happened on December 22, 2024, at Pakyi No. 2, where Agyei was employed as a house help.

He explained that during the cleaning exercise, the convict had a disagreement with one Kwadwo Tawiah. When Agyei reported the issue to the complainant, Asante allegedly told him he did not want to get involved in the matter between him and Tawiah.

According to the prosecution, Agyei took offence and insulted Asante, which led to a heated exchange between them.

“In the course of the confrontation, Agyei poured acid from a container on Asante,” Chief Inspector Amartey said, adding that the victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was admitted for three months.

Police investigations later resulted in Agyei’s arrest and prosecution…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>