Watchman jailed 8 yrs for defending himself with a catapult

48-year-old Charles Ayisala was sentenced eight years at Awutu Camp prison after he had a scuffle with his victim for defecating in a shop he was guarding. But Crime Check Foundation, CCF paid his fine for his release through a philanthropist, Ali Ibrahim.

The poor watchman, told crimecheckghana that his victim who sneaked to ease himself in an uncompleted shop behind the other which he was guarding attacked him after the act.  He said he also shot his catapult at the man in defence fearing he could lose his life.

“When I confronted him, unexpectedly he attacked me. He strangled my neck and I also held his hand. When I was able to free myself, he was coming back on me with a fisticuff whilst I retreated. Realizing the danger ahead, it then occurred to me that I had a catapult so with pain, I shot it at him. He screamed that I have damaged one of his eyes and then he went away.” He narrated.

He added that, “With the evidence of the faeces I collected, I narrated the incident to my madam but she stopped me from reporting it to the police when I insisted on several occasions. I was arrested four days later but if I had reported myself earlier, I could have prevented the arrest.”

The father of five said he earns only One Hundred and Fifty Ghana cedis from his job and Fifty Ghana cedis from digging pits. He said life was difficult hence his inability to hire a lawyer.

Ayisala said he was handed an eight-year jail term when he failed to produce a witness in court but his victim presented his wife whom he claimed lied to the court. “His wife told the court that, they were on their way to buy food for their child when his husband had upset stomach and decided to ease himself in a polythene bag. She said I pushed his husband and when he also pushed me and I fell, I shot the catapult at him. I was stopped by the court when I was trying to explain what really happened.” He said.

The regretful watchman had no choice than to serve his sentence because he said he couldn’t pay a total fine of Nine Thousand Ghana cedis, Six Thousand of it to the court and Three Thousand as compensation for his victim.

CCF’s support

Crime Check Foundation, CCF with its petty offenders project, has paid the fine for his release through a philanthropist, Ali Ibrahim.

Ayisala couldn’t help it so he wept as he showed his appreciation. “God bless CCF and Ali Ibrahim for coming to my aid.” He said.

As the breadwinner, his poor family was going to bear the brunt of his imprisonment.

The Petty Offenders project

Through the project, the CCF has paid the fines of more than Six hundred petty offenders and facilitated their release.

The Foundation is appealing to the public to contribute to the project to enable it release more of such offenders.