DVLA officer remanded for attempted murder

The Bekwai Magistrate Court, presided over by Nana Brew, has remanded in police custody, a 34-year-old staff of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Michael Yaw Boateng, for attempted murder of the queenmother of the Kokofu Traditional Area.


He was alleged to have tried to strangle the queenmother, Osagyefo Nana Kissiwah Amoah Bayie, while she was asleep in her room.

Boateng pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder and was remanded in police custody to reappear on January 18.

The presiding judge overturned a bail application by counsel for the accused, citing lack of jurisdiction.

Presenting the facts of the case, Detective Inspector Stephen Ofori said the complainant is the queemother of the Kokofu Traditional Area and a resident of Kumasi while the accused, Michael, resides in Accra but reguarly visits the wife, who is resident in Kokofu.

He said on November 14, 2015, Osagyefo Kissiwah came to Kokofu to prepare for a programme scheduled for November 17, 2015.

According to Inspector Stephen, on November 16, 2015, the queenmother rehearsed her speech for the programme after which she retired to bed at around 11:40p.m.

He said while the queenmother was asleep, the accused passed through the bathroom window and entered her bedroom, where he attempted to suffocate her with a pillow.

According to the prosecution, the queenmother shouted for help while she struggled with the accused.

"And when the accused realised that people were coming to the scene, he passed through the same place and escaped," he stated.

He said the complainant sustained injuries on her face with blood oozing from her nose after the alleged attack.

According to the police, the accused subsequently went into hiding in Accra but was later apprehended on January 1, 2016, when he was spotted at Kokofu.