A 34-year-old taxi driver, Stephen Atila, has been jailed for 2-years for causing harm to another
The single father of three was arrested in April 2022 at Ashiaman for fighting his friend.
“I had a little altercation with a friend in Ashiaman. Initially, I tried to walk away but he wouldn’t let me be. He kept pushing me till we exchanged fists” he recounted.
Atila’s heavy fist landed under his friend’s eyes which caused a deep cut oozing with blood
“I couldn’t stand the sight of blood so I sped off,” he said.
Later in the day, Atila was arrested and sent to the Ashiaman community 22 annex police cell.
“I was kept there for 5 days without my statement being taken; I had nobody to bail me. After two weeks I was charged GHC2600 for causing harm and in default sentenced to 27 months in jail”
Atila spent half of his sentence at the Ankaful Prison which he recalls as being the most difficult moment of his life.
“I was beaten every day in cells because I use to cry,” he said.
Atila’s family does not know he is in prison, he has not been able to reach them but he is confident of seeing them soon
“I don’t have a place to sleep, so I took my children to my mother and that is where I’ll go as soon as I leave here” he added.
Through Crime Check Foundation’s Petty Offenders Project, Atila’s GHC2600 fine has been paid.
He is a free man now.
