Farmer Jailed For Threats Of Death

A forty-year-old farmer and resident of Worapong, near Barekese in the Ashanti Region, Bashiru Yakubu, also known as Rasta, has been sentenced to 10 years� imprisonment with hard labour for threatening to kill one Madam Afua Pokuaa. Yakubu threatened to kill Madam Pokuaa for ejecting him from her house when he decided not to work for her again on her farm. Though Yakubu pleaded not guilty to the two counts of threat of death and causing unlawful damage, the Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, found him guilty on both counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was given 10 years� jail term on the first count and one month for causing unlawful damage to the wall and door of the complainant�s house. The sentences are to run concurrently. Presenting the facts of the case, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Archibald K. Fandoh said both Madam Pokuaa and Yakubu were farmers residing at Worapong, near Barekese. ASP Fandoh told the court that on December 2, last year, Yakubu told Madam Pokuaa that he could no longer work with her because she had failed to fulfil certain promises she made to him. ASP Fandoh said because of Yakubu�s decision, Madam Pokuaa also asked him to quit her house as she would not want to be held responsible for anything that would happen to him. According to the prosecutor, before Yakubu left Madam Pokuaa�s house, he rained insults on her and threatened to kill her. He said the following day, December 3, 2013 Yakubu deliberately passed in front of Madam Pokuaa�s house wielding a sharp machete and warned her not to step on her cocoa farm that day else he would decapitate her and bury her on the farm. Fearing for her life, the prosecutor said Madam Pokuaa reported the matter to the area unit committee chairman who sent three men to bring Yakubu but they did not find him. ASP Fandoh said around 12 a.m, Yakubu went back to Madam Pokuaa�s house with the machete, broke her main gate and damaged her door in an attempt to enter her room and accomplish his mission. However, ASP Fandoh said the shouts for help from Madam Pokuaa attracted her neighbours who rushed there and arrested and handed Yakubu over to the police.