Jesus Onetouch: I’m Back From Hell

Prophet Nana Kofi Yirenkyi aka Jesus Onetouch yesterday told Daily Guide that he had just returned from hell, four days after a High Court ordered his release from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison after a successful appeal.

According to him, everything about the Nsawam Prison was hellish. “The food, the sleeping arrangements and everything about prison is like hell,” the beleaguered preacher told Daily Guide yesterday, after this release from incarceration.

“I can say that I have gone to hell and I am back,” he said, recounting his ordeal in the gulag.

Jesus Onetouch was jailed by a circuit court a little over a year ago for defiling his daughter, a case which made interesting headings in the media and attracted the attention of child rights organizations across the country.

Moments after his release, he told Daily Guide that he still maintained his innocence in the infamous incident.

According to him, he would want God to curse him if he really defiled his daughter, but the preacher was quick to add that he had forgiven all those who had a hand in his incarceration.

He said that although he would take care of all the needs of his daughter, it was not certain that he would bring her under his roof.
Jesus Onetouch returned home to a triumphant reception from hundreds of church members and other sympathizers.

Some of his followers had held a two-day vigil at the entrance of the Nsawam Prison following the announcement of his acquittal and discharge by an Accra High Court.

When he eventually came out of the prison walls, he was met by a thronging crowd of well-wishers and sympathizers who had turned up at the prison for the second time to welcome him home.

On Monday, those who turned up at the prison, expecting that he was going to be released, left the place disappointed because there was a hitch in the paperwork, a situation which demanded that they wait till the next day.

Yesterday, his sympathizers and family members could afford to smile broadly as prison officials opened the gate widely for Jesus Onetouch to breathe the air of freedom once more.

Regarding the ordeal that he went through in the past two years, he said it was the wish of God, adding that his church would wax stronger.

Jesus Onetouch was acquitted and discharged by Justice Emmanuel Dzakpasu in an Accra High court last week, when his ruling overturned the lower court ruling that sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The new ruling was based on the fact that prosecutors could not prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the young girl was actually defiled.

According to the judge, the prosecution failed to prove that the girl’s hymen was broken by the preacher’s penis.

Two separate doctors’ reports tendered in evidence contradicted each other, thereby rendering the earlier evidence against him inconclusive. In criminal prosecution, conflicting pieces of evidence always inure to the benefit of the accused.

According to Justice Dzakpasu, the work of the prosecution was to prove the allegation beyond all reasonable doubt, but in this case, the huge doubt inured to the benefit of the accused.

However, this judgement has attracted the angst of human rights advocacy groups which are convinced that the preacher actually defiled his daughter.

A group led by Nana Oye Lithur said it would pursue the case till the beleaguered preacher was brought back to book for what they perceived as a gross injustice to his 10-year-old daughter.

Akosua Puni And Michael Essien

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