Takoradi: MAN'S HAND CHOPPED OFF

A caretaker at a building site at Mpatado in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis who suspected a man of stealing five iron rods has done the unthinkable by chopping off the suspected thief’s right hand. Egya Kojo Mensah, the caretaker, later took the victim, Kofi Badu, to the police station. For carrying out this Sharia-like justice, Egya Mensah has been placed in police custody, while the victim is currently on admission at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and is said to be responding to treatment. Apart from his right hand, Badu sustained multiple cuts at his back and chest as a result of the attack on him by Egya Mensah.

Badu told the Daily Graphic on his hospital bed that he had been mistaken for a thief, explaining that he was an auto mechanic and that he had visited his aunt who lived in the area where Egya Mensah is the caretaker of a building. Egya Mensah told the police that the stealing of iron rods from the site had been going on for some time, for which reason he decided to deal with anybody he caught.

 According to the Kwesimintsim District Commander of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Ayamga Akolgo, Egya Mensah said he is the caretaker of a building project at Mpatado, where he had lost many iron rods. He told the police that immediately he realised that a quantity of iron rods had gone missing, he and another man decided to search the whole area but they did not find the culprit. The district commander said the suspect and the other man who is currently being sought for by the police later saw Badu in the area and gave him a hot chase. He said Egya Mensah first slashed Badu’s back and later chopped off his right hand, before taking him to the police station.