Paintsil is free, made to sign bond

Football star, John Paintsil, will not face prosecution after the neighbour who lodged a complaint of assault against him to the police expressed no interest in the case.

While Paintsil, one of the long-serving players of the Black Stars, will not have to go to court, he is required to sign a bond at the Legon Police Station Tuesday to be of good behaviour, not just as a neighbour but also a good husband.

The decision by the complainant not to pursue the case further followed an intervention by officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and family members of both Paintsil and his wife, Richlove.

After days of his identity being kept a secret, the neighbour was on Sunday revealed as Mr Amoah Dankwah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mighty Power Group of Companies, producers of Mighty Power herbal drugs.

Confirming his decision to the Daily Graphic in Accra Monday, Mr Amoah Dankwa said there was no point in pressing charges, particularly when the issues had been thrashed out.

“Since the incident, there have been visits from officials of the GFA and the families of Mr and Mrs Paintsil. More important, Mr Paintsil has shown remorse for what happened and I agree that whatever he did was done in a fit of anger and so for the sake of good neighbourliness, there is no point pursuing the case,” Mr Dankwa explained.

Mr Dankwah further explained that he had to let sleeping dogs lie for the sake of the friendship existing between his children and those of the Paintsils.

“Indeed, our children are friends and they attend the same school. They play together and visit each other. I don’t think we will be encouraging such a strong relationship if we are seen as litigating. Of course, I would want them to know right is right and wrong is wrong, but on this matter I think the point has been more than stressed and that’s enough,” he said.

The 31-year-old defender has not returned to his Israeli club side, Hapoel Tel-Aviv, after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations due to an injury he sustained during Ghana’s third place match against Mali in the competition.

Now free, he is expected to return to Tel-aviv on Tuesday evening to continue his treatment.