By Joyce Danso

Accra, June 9, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court has remanded Theophilus  Kpakpo Thompson, a trader, for allegedly assaulting and threatening a Joynews reporter, Latif Iddrisu. 

Mr Iddrisu was assaulted when covering a protest by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the arrest of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). 

Thompson, 55, charged with assault and threat of death, pleaded not guilty. 

The court, presided over by Mr Kwabena K. Obiri Yeboah, ordered the prosecution to file its disclosure within 10 days. The matter has been adjourned to June 18, 2025. 

Defence counsel for Thompson, Mr Enoch Afoakwa, prayer for bail for his client, which was, however, turned down by the court. 

Led by Chief Inspector Olivia Ofori-Atta, the prosecution told the court that the complainant, Mr Iddrisu, was a journalist with Joynews of the Multimedia Group Limited. 

The accused was a sympathizer of the NPP. 

On May 27, 2025, the EOCO arrested Charman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, based on which some party supporters massed up in front of EOCO to protest the arrest. 

At about 1900 hours, the complainant was on duty at the scene to do a live broadcast and in the process, some party supporters, including the accused person, rushed on him, hitting his head and ribs with their hands, with the assertion that he was giving false information. 

“Some of them also hit the complainant with stones and spat at him. Again the accused and his accomplice who remain at large threatened the complainant with words to wit “Today is your last day, we know where you are coming from, and we know what we can do.” 

The complainant reported the matter to the police, and he was issued with a medical report form to attend hospital. 

The medical report submitted confirmed that the complainant was indeed assaulted, prosecution said. 

“A video footage of the incident was obtained and reviewed, which identified the accused person and others at large as the persons who assaulted and threatened the complainant,” it said. 

On June 7, 2025, the accused, in his caution statement, admitted being present at the scene and also hitting the complainant. 

Efforts were being made to arrest his accomplices while investigations were underway, the prosecution said. 

GNA 

Agnes Boye-Doe