Clinical psychologist to the ‘rescue’ of KKD

Nana Konadu Agyeman Feb - 13 - 2015 , 01:30

Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, popularly called KKD, yesterday failed to appear before the Kaneshie Magistrate Court for the second time due to ill-health.

He was reported to be seeing a clinical psychologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) yesterday, after undergoing one week medical review.

Ms Suzanna Nyarko, who represented the lead counsel of the accused, Mr Tony Forson, told the court that she received instruction from her senior partner that KKD was “unwell and was attending a clinical psychology session at the Korle-Bu Hospital.”

She subsequently produced a medical report to the court as proof of KKD’s medical treatment.

According to her, the accused had been undergoing a regular weekly review since he was admitted to the hospital on the night of Wednesday, February 5, 2015.

However, the acting Director of Public Prosecution of the Attorney General’s Department, Mrs Cynthia Lamptey, challenged the submission of the medical report on the grounds that the accused had already completed his medical treatment and was supposed to be in court.

She told the court that the current medical report Ms Nyarko produced before the court was different from the earlier one the lead counsel, Mr Forson, gave to her and the court.

She said the earlier report, which she received at the last adjourned date, had indicated a bed rest with regular weekly review that supposedly indicated that KKD should have completed his treatment on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, for him to appear in court yesterday.

However, Mr Nyarko explained that KKD was due to complete his bed rest on Wednesday, February 11, 2015.

The court agreed to the submission of Ms Nyarko and subsequently adjourned the hearing of the committal case to February 18, 2015.

At the last sitting on February 5, 2015, the lead defence counsel, Mr Forson, informed the court that 10 minutes to 9 a.m. that day, KKD’s sister instructed him that the accused person was unwell and was sent to Korle Bu last Wednesday night for medical attention.

According to Mr Forson, the sister further instructed him to say that a medical report was being prepared at Korle Bu for him to forward to the court and the prosecution as soon as possible.

Indictment

The state on January 29, 2015, served KKD with a bill of indictment for his alleged raping of the 19-year-old student.

The serving of the bill of indictment, including the summary of evidence and witnesses, who will give evidence in the case, paved the way for the committal hearing of the case to begin.

The prosecution told the court that the state had also filed the bill of indictment processes at the Fast Track High Court, where the case would be transferred to after the committal stage.

Resolve to pursue case

On January 22, 2015, the state expressed its resolve to continue with KKD’s prosecution after formally charging him with rape.

The prosecution had told the court that it had already taken a statement from the fashion and entertainment icon.

Withdrawal of case

On January 12, this year, the 19-year-old student at the centre of the case expressed her disinterest in pursuing the case.

She, consequently, communicated her decision to the police and made copies of the letter available to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Registrar of the High Court and the Chief Justice.

KKD’s apology

In a statement signed and issued in Accra by KKD on January 13, 2015, he asked the public to forgive him for the ridicule and disgrace he had caused his family and that of the victim.

He blamed his shortcoming on what he described as “fleeting pleasure of the flesh” and acknowledged that he had sinned and prayed for God’s forgiveness.