A spiritualist at Ejisu-Krapa near Kumasi, is in police custody accused of trial by ordeal after he allegedly burned the palms of a student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST). The student, Andy Oppong-Danso was accused by another student of theft. Nana Kwaku Kwapong, the spiritualist was said to have poured some concoction into the palms of Oppong-Danso, a third year Geomatic student, who was accused of stealing a laptop computer, a digital camera and a wallet containing an unspecified amount of money all belonging to Felix Asiamah, also a student of the university. The spiritualist thereafter allegedly recited some incantations and the concoction caught fire in the student’s palms, burning them badly. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ACP) Stephen Awuah-Baffour, Ejisu-Juaben Police Commander, who confirmed the incident to The Ghanaian Times newspaper, said that Oppong-Danso stayed in a hostel behind Asiama’s house. The police officer said on March 22, Asiamah claimed that the items had been stolen and suspected Oppong-Danso of the theft. Asiamah was said to have confronted Oppong-Danso who denied the offence. Asiamah allegedly consulted the spiritualist who asked him to bring anyone he suspected of the theft to his shrine for some rituals. ASP Awuah-Baffour said Asiamah again confronted Oppong-Danso and challenged him to go to prove his innocence at the shrine. Oppong-Danso obliged and followed Asiamah to the shrine where the spiritualist accused him of stealing the items. He denied the accusation and challenged Nana Kwapong to prove it. The spiritualist accepted the student’s challenge and poured the concoction into his palms and after reciting the incantations, it caught fire and burned his palms. A report was made to the police who arrested the spiritualist and after investigation, charged him with trial by ordeal. He was to appear before the Ejisu District Court last Friday but the court did not sit. Source: The Ghanaian Times