Galamsey worker jailed for slashing student in Bompieso attack

A small-scale illegal miner at Bompieso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality has been jailed for a year with hard labour for attacking and slashing a student with a blade.

The Tarkwa District Court One, presided over by Charles Owusu Nsiah, handed the sentence to Bismark Owusu, who pleaded guilty to causing unlawful harm.

Prosecutor Inspector Patrick Essien told the court that the victim, Bright Akwasi Aboagye, a student living in Bompieso, was riding a tricycle at about midday on 7 October with a friend, Ishmael, when they came upon a group of illegal miners assaulting a young man accused of stealing gold-bearing stones.

Owusu was part of the group. The court heard that Aboagye intervened and struck one of the miners in an attempt to stop the beating, prompting the group to warn him to leave the scene.

Inspector Essien said Owusu took offence at the intervention and attempted to fight the complainant and his friend, but they were separated and went their separate ways.

Later that day, Owusu confronted the pair at a game centre and warned that the earlier confrontation was “not over”. He later returned, attacked Aboagye and slashed him twice on the back with a blade before fleeing as the victim began to bleed.

Residents rushed the injured student to the Bompieso Clinic for treatment, after which he reported the matter to the police.

Owusu was arrested the same day and subsequently put before the court, where he was convicted on his own plea.