Kumasi, Aug 7, GNA - Eric Adjei Bawuah, charged with robbery and rape of a 19-year-old apprentice seamstress at Asafo in Kumasi, has denied committing the offence.

The accused, who was making his third appearance before a Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Adjei Frimpong, said he had been framed up.

He told the court that relations between him and some workers at the Asafo Neoplan Washing Bay had been bad as he picked a fight with them about two years ago.

He had sent his car to the bay to be washed but detected the theft of an item he had left in the car.

This, he said, led to the fight during which he beat them. "My Lord, I am not a criminal. I make ends meet as a gym instructor."

At this point 28-year-old Bawuah took off his shirt to show his muscles and demonstrated his body-building training skills.

The big crowd that had gathered to listen to the court's proceedings could not help as they went into prolonged laughter. Frank Owusu, a blood relation he called as witness, confirmed to the court that Bawuah was not on good terms with workers at the washing bay.

He said workers at the washing bay, unaware of his (Owusu's) relationship with the accused, had been threatening, in his presence, to beat Bawuah to death and that he had always counselled them against doing that.

The court ordered Bawuah back into prison custody to re-appear on August 19.

A State Attorney, Nana Akua Adu-Gyamfi, had told the court that the victim, who resides in Accra, was heading towards the Asafo Neoplan Station at dawn on July 29, to board a vehicle after visiting her sister in Kumasi.

Whilst on her way to the station, Bawuah surfaced from nowhere, firmly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a taxi cab he had signalled to stop.

He asked the cab driver to take them to a drinking spot where he raped and snatched her GH¢30 at knife point.

Her screams attracted some neighbours who alerted the police, leading to the arrest of Bawuah.