The aggression victim of the Midlands was not deliberately invited to appear in court "- lawyer

General News on Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-01-29

The lawyer for Patience Osafo, the client of Midland Savings and Loans who was badaulted by a police officer in July 2018, disputed claims that his client was not interested in pursuing the law. case.

This is contrary to a court decision dismissing the case, citing the victim's lack of interest, who would not have appeared in court several times to testify.

The Daily Graphic reported that the police officer, Lance Corporal Frederick Amanor Godzi, and three Midland staff members who were also on trial were released for lack of interest in the trial of the victim, Patience Osafo.

But according to Samson Lardi Anyenini, the victim's lawyer, his client was only once invited, in impractical circumstances, to appear in court. Speaking at the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Anyenini said prosecutors' actions were deliberate and well calculated not to seek justice from the plaintiff.

"I confirmed with her and she said that, apart from the single invitation in the beginning, she had never received an invitation from the police attorney. The police deliberately failed to provide him with information and proceeded to an adjournment after the other without notifying her. Yet, they told the court that they had informed her and that she was making herself unavailable.

"So, how can the court justify dismissing the case when it was absent in Kumasi and had received only one-day notice and that was the only time it had been invited? It was a well-calculated plan, "he noted.

The lawyer believes that there has been no real commitment to prosecute the police officer.

"There were appropriate charges against these gentlemen, but that was not done. We know he had to be charged with more than just badault, but since it was the police who were defending their colleague, they obviously looked away and did not consider the offense of causing potential harm. ten years in prison. They could have added the charge of exposing the child to danger, as shown in the video. They did not do all this, "he added.

Context

Lance Corporal Amanor attacked Patience Osafo in July 2018 while she was attempting to withdraw her savings of 270.00 GHc after office hours because of the bank's frustrations.

According to her statement, she had begged stating that she was in urgent need of GHc105 in order to settle her debts and feed a baby she was caring for.

The police officer had physical problems after Patience Osafo refused to leave the wicket with his grandson because his money had not been delivered.

We saw the policeman grabbed the woman and hit her several times with an umbrella while she was trying to wrestle.

He also tried to pull her violently out of the building while she was holding the baby in her arms.

The incident was filmed and recorded on social media, causing public outrage and condemnation of Amnesty International, the Ghana Bar Association, the Ministry of Gender, the Childhood and Social Protection and a number of civil society organizations.

Punitive actions

Frederick Amanor was arrested and his uniform as well as all police accessories were confiscated, pending internal disciplinary proceedings.

In addition, an investigation was opened into the conduct of the managers of Midland Savings and Loans Limited.

The company suspended all current staff at that time and agreed to a compensation program for Osafo Patience.

In addition to this, the victim obtained significant financial support from several sources, with other reports suggesting that she would have even received a house as compensation from the company.