Illegal logger invokes curses on forestry staff

An Obogu-based lumber dealer has signed a bond to be  of good behaviour for the next two years for cursing officials of the Forestry Commission officials and others  for seizing  his illegal lumber at Obogu in the Asante Akim North District in the Ashanti Region.

Kwame Frimpong,  40,  pleaded with the court, presided over by Mr Frederick Tetteh, to be lenient with him since he had been in that business for a very long time.

Frimpong,  who said selling lumber was his main business,  questioned why he should be arrested seven times by the Forestry Commission within two years.

A blind uncle of Frimpong  was also in court to plead for him, saying he was the  breadwinner for many members of their family.

His plea was, however, not taken and was bonded to be of good behaviour for the next two years.

Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant Princeton Peasah Darkwa, told the court that on July 6, 2016, the Juaso District Forest Officer, Mrs Rebecca Baning Oppan, led a team of personnel to Obogu to arrest and evacuate  800 illegal lumber  belonging to Frimpong.

Apart from preventing them from confiscating the lumber, Frimpong cursed them severally with two bottles of schnapps.  The following day, a Forestry truck was dispatched from Ejisu with loading boys to evacuate the illegal lumber where he once again  repeated the curses. 

Not satisfied, Frimpong   followed them to the Juaso office of the Forestry Commission and for the third time pronounced curses on  the staff.

He was later arrested by the police and arraigned before the court for prosecution.

Palace

The behaviour of the suspect was first reported to the chiefs and people of Juaso who fined  him GH¢1,000 two bottles of schnapps and two goats for  invoking curses,  which had been   banned  in the area.