Man who vandalised busts of Big Six to undergo brain scan

The Kwabenya Circuit Court has ordered the suspect arraigned before it for allegedly vandalising six effigies at the Airport Roundabout to undergo a brain scan.

This is to determine the mental state of the suspect, Newell Gavu, who made a second appearance before the court on September 18.

The result of the scan should be ready and available to the court on October 4, when he next appears before the court.

A private person filed a complaint against the accused after he, while on his way to work at the Kotoka International Airport, observed that the latter was using a hammer to break the busts of the Big Six mounted within the roundabout.

The incident is reported to have happened around 3:00 am on Saturday, August 31. 

After causing damage to the monument, the suspect also destroyed several signposts in the area.

The police consequently arrested 37-year-old Gavu, who has confirmed that he is a CCTV installer.

During interrogation, Gavu, who said he resided at Oyarifa with his parents, gave inconsistent statements, but later claimed that a spirit in his dream directed him to destroy the statues.

Case

The police also told the court that from the initial investigation, the suspect has a history of having received medical treatment at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital and had been put on medication.

The police said they had found out that Gavu had stopped taking his medication as prescribed, destroyed all his medical records, discarded his medicines and left home.

The case, as presented before the court, prompted the judge to order a brain scan to determine whether the suspect was mentally fit for trial or needed medical attention.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Airport Company Limited has initiated steps to replace the monuments.