The fight with a policeman was for self-defense

General News of Monday, July 8, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-07-08

The trotro driver who is the subject of a lawsuit, as well as his mate, for allegedly badaulting a police officer in a video that fired at the beginning of the year, said at the circuit court of Weija that their action was in self-defense.

The driver, Francis Buabeng, stated that the policeman, the agent Julius Mawuli Ekpe, badaulted him, as well as his companion, and that they fought back after being subjected to an unjustified attack.

Opening his defense in court last Friday, Buabeng said it was the police officer who had attacked him for the first time.

In his narration of the incident that led to the fight, he stated that the police officer had tried to forcibly seize keys from his vehicle but had resisted.

"He got angry and still started fighting me. When my companion confronted him for it to stop, he turned his attention to him and started to hit him too.

It was at that time that I had the opportunity to get out of the car to defend myself. At the time, he wore a helmet and therefore gave me a head bad, which hurt my lips and sank with blood, "he said.

He pleaded with the court to be released because he was acting in self-defense.

Context

The case drew national attention when a video showing the driver and his mate engaged in a fight with the agent Ekpe on the Mallam-Kasoa road in Accra became viral on social media and traditional .

The two men were arrested on March 18, 2019, four days after the incident, and were brought to justice.

Bad treatment

Earlier, Mr. Buabeng told the court that they had been subjected to severe beatings by the police when they were arrested.
He stated that when he went to the Odorkor police station to present his medical forms to the hospital, the police seized the opportunity to l '. stop and hit him.

Shortly thereafter, his companion, Albert Ansah, who also came to the police station to present his medical forms, was also arrested and beaten in the same manner.

Mr. Buabeng further told the court that they were then transferred to the police headquarters, where they were handed over to the anti-robbery brigade and subjected to even worse treatment.

He added that the police then took them to the offices of the National Investigation Bureau (BNI).

Already, the court acquitted and released three counts: conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful damage and obstruction of the road.

They must return to court on August 27, 2019.