Court discharges policeman who assaulted woman at Midland Savings and Loans

The policeman who allegedly beat up a woman at the Shiashie branch of Midland Savings and Loans Limited, Lance Corporal Frederick Amanor Godzi, aka Skalla, has been discharged by the Accra Circuit Court.

Godzi was charged with assault for allegedly beating Ms Patience Osafo, a customer of Midland, on its premises on July 19, 2018, when she went there to withdraw her money.

Also set free by the court are the three officials of Midland who were standing trial for allegedly aiding Godzi to assault Ms Osafo.

They are Jocelyn Kukua-Fakah, the Operations Manager, Shirley Portia Anaman, Customer Service Officer, and Prince Ayensu, a driver.

The court discharged the accused due to the lack of interest in the trial by Ms Osafo.

She is said to have failed to appear before the court to testify.

She also failed to avail herself to help the police with investigations.

Public outrage

Godzi was captured in a video that subsequently went viral assaulting 36-year-old Ms Osafo, who was carrying a baby and had gone to the Shiashie branch of Midland Savings and Loans to withdraw part of her GHS270 savings.

Members of the public expressed outrage over the incident and subsequently the policeman was arrested and interdicted, while investigations into the case began.

It is not clear why Ms Osafo showed no interest in the trial, but even before the court discharged L/Corporal Godzi, his counsel had begged the court to allow an out-of-court settlement on the basis that the charge of assault levelled against his client was not a felony but a misdemeanour.

Also, a few days after the incident, Ms Osafo’s lawyers and Midland Savings and Loans reached a compensation agreement.