Man with 15 biometric voter ID cards in court

Emmanuel Achibald Laryea, a labourer who was arrested with 15 Biometric Voters Identity Cards, has been arraigned before an Accra District Magistrate Court.

Laryea, who pleaded not guilty was charged with two counts of engaging in multiple registrations and causing harm to Lance Corporal William Afedor by biting the thumb.

The court presided over by Mr Ali Baba Bature convicted Laryea on his own plea and remanded him into custody but deferred his sentence to April 24.

Responding to questions as to why he flagrantly violated the law and engaged in multiple registrations Laryea said he had a psychiatric problem.

A lawyer who acted as friend of the court pleaded with the court and requested that Laryea be sent to the Psychiatric Hospital for medical examination.

The trial judge however rejected that submission saying he was medically fit since he had committed similar offence in the last general elections during which he obtained 13 voters ID cards.

Inspector P.Y Manu told the court that the complainant was Gideon Asare Baffour, a Regional Electoral Officer, whiles the accused who resides at Dansoman, on April 19 went to the Navoda Regional Center at Mallam to register after producing his old Voter Registration Card.

He said Laryea after going through the initial registration procedure of providing his name, age and other requirements, but the scanner machine detected that his fingerprints had already been registered.

He said it was realized that Laryea had registered at Tantua Registration Centre, hence the Police at Odorkor was called in and he was arrested.

Inspector Manu said later, fifteen new biometric voter registration cards and 13 old Voters ID cards all bearing his photograph under different names were retrieved from on him.

He said four revolving toy pistols were also retrieved from his residence and in a bid to run away from justice, Laryea bit the thumb of Corporal Afedor but he was apprehended after a hot chase.

Source: GNA