Tuesday, April 27, 2010

'Romeo' Catholic Priest suspended

Randy Roman Catholic Priest Rev. Father Charles Asamoah, who inflicted multiple cutlass wounds on 42-year-old Janet Dwamena Agyapomaa aka Yaa Kwahu (pictured), after their secret amorous affair turned sour, has been released from police detention.

He has been charged with attempted murder and is expected to report at 9.00am daily at the Fomena Police Station where the case is pending, as law enforcement officers wait for the victim’s release from hospital to assist them in investigations.

Upon learning about the scandal, the Obuasi Diocese of the Catholic Church has suspended Rev. Fr. Charles Asamoah from celebrating Mass with his parishioners and has since Sunday been replaced by Rev. Fr. Maxwell, who was the celebrant of yesterday’s service at Bodwesango, DAILY GUIDE gathered.

The new priest reportedly cautioned parishioners to remain calm in the face of the scandalous story and not get involved in public discussions over the incident.

Yaa Kwahu, the victim, who lives at Obuasi Pomposo, went into coma after sustaining multiple cutlass wounds all over her body at the dawn of last Thursday, allegedly perpetrated by Fr. Charles Asamoah, the Parish Priest of Bodwesango Catholic Church.

She was found in a pool of blood at the roadside around 6:30 am at Bodwesango from where passersby rushed her to the St. Louis Hospital in the community and later, AngloGold Ashanti Hospital in Obuasi.

She told DAILY GUIDE on her hospital bed that she visited the Priest, whom she had befriended for close to three months, at his mission house, only to discover that another lady was holed up there wearing a nightgown.

Yaa Kwahu stated that Fr. Asamoah introduced the new lady to her as his sister. But she found out the lady was her rival.

“The Priest then requested to breakup with me, for which I demanded a compensation of GH¢500 after knowing the truth,” the victim recounted.

She said the Priest bargained for GH¢200 but she insisted on the GH¢500, which she went for last Wednesday in the company of a friend at the mission house.

“As we were about to take a car from Bodwesango Lorry Station to Obuasi, Father Charles called my cell phone and requested that I come over because he could not stand losing me to someone else, while my friend continued the journey.”

Not suspecting any foul play, the victim said the Priest demanded that she passed the night at his place, during which he allegedly beat her with a club and hacked her with a machete with the intention to kill her.

According to Yaa Kwahu, this was after Fr. Charles Asamoah had attempted to take back the GH¢500 compensation at knifepoint, which resulted in a struggle between them.

“He then started hitting me all over with a club and stabbed me several times in the head with a knife, while Frimpong, his houseboy kept watch.”

She alleged that the Parish Priest took away the GH¢500 in addition to her own GH¢60, plus a mobile phone, and then dumped her at the roadside at dawn, with the assistance of his houseboy.

Fr. Charles, who also sustained cuts on the mouth during the struggle, had since received stitches at the AGA Hospital.

Until his new appointment at Bodwesango, the Priest was at Akrokerri after moving from Obuasi.

ASP M. K. Oduro, Fomena District Police Commander, confirmed the incident and subsequent arrest of the suspect to the paper.

SIC: GN