The police saved Mutalla Inusah, a correspondent of GHone Television station, from physical attack by Oppong Kyekyeku, who was in handcuff.
Kyekyeku, who was arrested for allegedly taking the daughter to Oyibi Kom, in Accra, for money ritual, stretched his hands towards the journalist, saying, “You are stupid, who asked you to take pictures.”
Some relatives of the accused joined the verbal assault, shouting and asking, “who gave you the permission to take pictures.’
The police brought the situation under control and escorted accused back to custody.
Meanwhile, the District Court at the police headquarters, has declined bail to Kyekyeku, a machine operator, and remanded him into lawful custody to reappear on July 4.
The court presided over by Ms Ama Adomako Kwakye held that the court had no jurisdiction to grant bail and also said there had not been an unreasonable delay in the trial.
The court’s ruling came after the defence counsel, Mr Ralph Agyapong, had prayed the court to grant accused, a father of 12, bail, as the family depended on him.
Mr Agyapong contended that his client had spent about 14 days in custody, and he had been assisting the police in investigations, arguing that the district court had jurisdiction to grant bail.
He said accused was a businessperson and had a fixed place of abode.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Amoah told the court that the police were yet to conclude investigations and prayed the court not to take the plea of accused.
The prosecution said the charge against his client constituted a first degree felony (serious offence) and that the police needed to build a docket to be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s office for advice.
Chief Insp Amoah told the court that Kyekyeku who is the father of the victim, 11, and has been living in Holland for many years , relocated to Ghana a year ago.
Prosecution said in May, this year, Kyekyeku allegedly told a friend he was facing financial challenges and consulted a spiritualist, and agreed to present his daughter for money ritual.
Kyekyeku was, however, arrested after he had allegedly took the daughter for ritual at Oyibi Kom, in Accra.
The pleas of accused, who has been charged with preparation to commit crime to wit murder, has been preserved by the court. – GNA
