Court fines a farmer for setting house ablaze

Saliya Banda, a farmer, who vowed to teach a trader a lesson, is standing accused at an Akim Oda Magistrate Court for setting the trader’s house on fire.

The fire destroyed properties including four bags (containing 30 pieces of cloth and dresses), a bed and cash of GH¢300 among other things, whose values are yet to be estimated.

The accused, who denied having knowledge of causing unlawful damage, was admitted to GH¢2,000 bail with one surety. Banda was said to have a protracted misunderstanding with the complainant, Madam Afia Mansah.

The accused would reappear before the Akim Oda Magistrate Court presided over by Mr Albert Owusu Annor on January 10, 2011.

Briefing the court, the prosecution said on December 4, 2010 at about 1800 hours when Madam Mansah was trading near her house, she saw a smoke came out of her house.

He said the witness in the case told the complainant that she saw Banda jumped out of her window soon after setting the fire.

Prosecution said later with the help of others at the fire scene, Banda was arrested and escorted to the police station.

Source: GNA