Stop beating women – Judge warns Bukom Banku

A judge of an Accra Central District Court yesterday issued a stern warning to controversial boxer, Briamah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku, to stop beating women.

Justice Arit Nsemoh told the maverick boxer that when in public he should be a gentleman and good example to the youth.

“Make sure when you go out, you are a perfect gentleman; you have to be a good example; teach the young that people don’t beat women…,” Justice Nsemoh admonished.

She explained that per Banku’s profession, he ought not to beat women, adding that “when you come [before the court] again, you are in trouble.”

The judge made the comments when he discharged Bukom Banku, who appeared to be gaining notoriety for assaulting women, especially hairdressers.

The judge stated that the case had been successfully settled through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The court held that the terms of settlement at the ADR would be adopted as the judgment of the court and accordingly discharged the boxer-turned-musician.

Banku had been dragged before the court over charges of misconduct and threat of harm by one Ida Acheampong, a hairdresser.

Flashback

It may be recalled that the court last year discharged Banku after Martha Nelson, a hairdresser and complainant, had brought another assault case against him.

The complainant indicated that she was no longer interested in pressing charges against him.

Banku was reported to have slapped the hairdresser, who lives at Chorkor in Accra, twice on August 11, 2016 before punching her on the right ribs.

The accused was also expected to answer a charge of causing damage to a Nokia mobile phone valued at GH¢40 belonging to Martha.

Apart from the assault charge, Bukom Banku was facing additional charge of causing unlawful damage to the phone.

He reportedly collected the complainant’s Nokia phone and hit it on the ground.

Again in March last year, the Accra Regional Police Command arrested Banku for allegedly assaulting three ladies after one of them had reportedly rejected his request for sex.

He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 with two sureties.

In the instant case, he prosecution stated that on March 4, 2017 at Mamprobi, a suburb of Accra, the boxer offensively conducted himself when he uttered the abusive words, “foolish, stupid woman, your smelling virgina [vagina],” annoying Ida.

According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Vincentia Hanson, Banku threatened to harm the complainant when he stated, “If I get you, I will break you into pieces.”

At about 5pm on the said day, Ida was in her shop at Bukom – also a suburb of Accra – when Banku’s daughter – one Hajia – after school, came to the complainant for money to buy food.

Whilst Ida was talking to Hajia, Banku reportedly surfaced and without provocation, allegedly started shouting on top of his voice at the complainant, asking why she spoke with Hajia.

In an attempt to explain matters to Banku, he became more furious and uttered the afore-stated words against Ida.

In order to avoid further confrontation, Ida closed her shop and took a taxi home, but the boxer allegedly chased her and upon reaching the Manprobi-Agege main road in Accra, Ida, sensing danger, asked the driver to drive to the police station.

Bukom Banku turned his vehicle, stopped, again insulted Ida and threatened to break her into pieces.

Ida reported the matter and he was invited but he did not honour the invitation. The police went to his house, left a message and a number for him to call but he refused until he was summoned to appear before the court.

Source: Daily Guide