Bukom Banku appears in court but case adjourned to Sept 12

Controversial boxer cum comedian, Braimah Kamoko (aka Bukom Banku), yesterday made his expected appearance at the Accra District Magistrate Court to stand trial for allegedly assaulting a lady who refused to kiss him.

Banku appeared in court with his lawyer, Mr Jerry Avennogbor, but the trial could not come on because of the absence of the magistrate in charge of the case.

A source revealed to the Daily Graphic that the magistrate had been promoted to a Circuit Court judge and he was currently attending a training programme.

The commencement of the trial has, therefore, been fixed for September 12, 2016.

Banku has been charged with two counts of assault and causing unlawful damage.

Allegations

 Banku is also alleged to have destroyed the victim’s mobile phone after she had refused to kiss him.

 According to the source, on August 11, 2016, Banku visited the victim who is a hairdressing apprentice, at her salon and requested that she kisses him.

The victim, it claimed, refused and resisted Banku’s attempt to kiss her.

“Without any cause, Banku slapped her and punched her on the right ribs. He also took her phone and smashed it on the ground. After damaging the phone, he told the victim that her phone was inferior and that he would buy her a flashy phone,’’ it said. 

The boxer then left the scene, leaving the victim in tears. 

Denial

Meanwhile, the boxer has vehemently denied assaulting the lady in question or trying to kiss her.

In an interview with a local television station, Adom TV, Banku said he never indulged in the act as had been alleged.

“I know it is just a ploy to tarnish my image. I have not beaten anybody and if I am lying, may God strike me dead,’’ he fumed.

Cases

The boxer has, on numerous occasions, had brushes with the law for allegedly assaulting people, especially at Bukom and its environs in Accra Central where he resides.

None of those cases has resulted in any form of punishment.

The alleged misbehaviour by Banku has, however, attracted nationwide condemnation.

In June this year, the Adjabeng Magistrate Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he allegedly dragged a man from his bedroom and beat him up mercilessly with a machete in public.

He was arrested and hauled before the court on June 27. 

In March this year, he was also arraigned for allegedly assaulting three women after they refused to have sex with him.

He was also arrested in January 2015 for allegedly beating up some people during a public gathering at Gbese in Accra Central.

Banku denied the allegations in all the cases.