24-year-old illegal miner jailed for threatening to kill mother

The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 24-year-old illegal miner to eight years imprisonment with hard labour for threatening to harm his biological mother at Wassa Essikuma in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

Kofi Essien, popularly known as ‘Buffon’, an ex-convict, was also charged with causing unlawful damage after pleading guilty with an explanation on both counts.

At the court presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, the prosecuting Chief Superintendent, Alex Odonkor, narrated that the complainant was Madam Agnes Boadi, 47 years old, and the mother of Essien.

The mother and the son stay in the same house at Wassa Essikuma.

The prosecution added that about two years ago, Essien returned from prison and realised that the complainant was in a relationship with a certain man, and he (Essien) was not happy about it and warned her to quit.

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the complainant refused to discontinue the relationship, and since then Essien has been threatening to kill her.

The prosecution said two weeks ago, Essien continued his usual attacks on the complainant, and for fear of losing her life, she left the house and went to spend the night with her boyfriend, who lived in the same town as her.

The next day, Essien followed the complainant to the boyfriend’s house and ordered her to return home, but she refused.

The prosecutor said the convict, who became upset, returned home, picked a cutlass, and used it to damage the key in the complainant’s door.

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said Essien was not satisfied with his actions, so he went for a pickaxe and used the same to create holes in the walls of the building. The total value of the items damaged was GH¢2,570.00

Subsequently, the complainant reported the case at the Wassa Aboso police station, where Essien was apprehended to assist in investigations.