‘Yesu Mogya’ Jailed 6 Years For Cutlass Attack

A 22-year-old unemployed man, George Oduro, alias Yesu Mogya, has been jailed for six years by the Bekwai Circuit Court for brutally attacking a 16-year-old Senior High School student with a cutlass at Dedesua near Aputuogya in the Ashanti Region.

Oduro was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of causing harm, contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The court, presided over by Isaac Apietu, handed down the sentence on the convict’s own plea of guilty.

Detective Inspector Eric Okyere, who prosecuted the case, told the court that the victim, Emmanuel Opoku, was a third-year student of Foase Senior High School.

The prosecution said the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on September 28, 2026, after Oduro’s friend, Paa Willi, had allegedly been beaten and chased from Dedesua by one Kofi after being found with Kofi’s underage sister.

Paa Willi reportedly informed Oduro about the incident, prompting him and others to mobilise to Dedesua to retaliate.

According to the prosecution, Oduro armed himself with a cutlass, popularly known as “lele,” and laid an ambush on the outskirts of Dedesua to attack anyone he encountered.

The court heard that Emmanuel and his friends were returning home after escorting a tricycle rider to park his vehicle when they encountered the group.

They reportedly ran for their lives, but Emmanuel fell down during the chase.

When he got up and attempted to continue running, Oduro allegedly confronted him and asked whether he knew him.

After Emmanuel answered in the negative, Oduro reportedly pulled out the cutlass and aimed a blow at his head.

The victim dodged the blow, but the cutlass landed on his left shoulder, cutting through the bone and severing the upper part of the shoulder.

Oduro allegedly made another attempt to slash his head, forcing Emmanuel to use his left forearm to shield himself.

He sustained another deep wound and fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.

The prosecution said Oduro fled after seeing the victim lying in a pool of blood, believing he was dead.

Emmanuel, however, managed to shout for help and was rushed to the Dedesua Clinic before being referred to Agogo General Hospital.

Due to the severity of his injuries, he was subsequently transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for specialist treatment.

The court further heard that on September 30, police received a distress call that a mob had besieged a house at Dedesua and was demanding that a young man be handed over to them to be lynched.

Police proceeded to the area and rescued Oduro, who had reportedly gone to plead for forgiveness from the victim’s family.

During investigations, Oduro admitted the offence in his cautioned statement, claiming that he had mistaken Emmanuel for the person who had attacked his friend.

He was subsequently charged and brought before the Bekwai Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison.