'Jesus Onetouch has case to answer'

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
By Stehen Kwabena Effah

THE Accra Circuit Court says a prima facie case has been established against the Head Pastor of the Jesus Blood Prophetic Ministry, Nana Kwesi Yirenkyi, who is alleged to have defiled his 10-year old daughter.

Ruling on a submission of no case initiated by the defence, the court presided over by Mrs.Georgina Mensah Datsa, said yesterday that the evidence adduced by the prosecution at the close of its case indicated that the accused has questions to answer.

It has thus asked the prosecution to prepare to open its defence on May 11, the next adjourned date.

The defence filed the submission of no case after the prosecution closed its case on April 26, after eight prosecution witnesses including the victim and her mother had testified in the case which started in March.

Popularly referred to as ‘Jesus Onetouch’, Nana Yirenkyi was arrested for allegedly defiling his 10-year old daughter with whom he lived, and is being tried on two counts of defilement and incest.

He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is currently on police remand, having been refused bail three times.

Unlike previous days, yesterday’s ruling changed the mood of the accused person who always appeared in court looking calm and confident. The accused appeared shaken by the court’s decision that he should open his defence.

His church members, most of who always appear in court in a jubilant mood were also silenced by the decision of the court as they walked out of the court premise looking somewhat distraught.

It is the prosecution’s case that the victim, who was born out of wedlock, had been living with her mother until 2005 when she was sent to Nana Yirenkyi at McCarthy Hill, Accra to attend school.

The prosecution said between 2008 and 2009, Nana Yirenkyi started having sexual intercourse with her daughter on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays before church service.

It said in November 2009, Nana Yirenkyi requested the victim’s mother to talk to the victim who she said had put up a bad character.

According to the prosecution, it was at this instance that the victim revealed her ordeal to her mother who reported the matter to the police who gave her a form for medical examination.

Nana Yirenkyi was later arrested and put before court.