Crime & Punishment of Friday, 20 January 2006

Source: GNA

Court remands herbalist for defiling epileptic girl

Sunyani (B/A) Jan. 20, GNA - A Sunyani District Magistrate Court 'B', presided over by Mr. Albert Zoogah has remanded a 32-year-old herbalist for allegedly having 'carnal knowledge' of a 14 year-old girl suffering from epilepsy.

The plea of the accused, Kofi Tawiah, was not taken and would appear again before the court on Monday, January 23, this year.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector C. K. Fosu told the court that the complainant, Kwaku Ankomah is the father of the victim and lived in the same vicinity with the accused at Susuanso, near Sunyani. He said for some time the victim was receiving treatment from the accused.

At about 0700 hours on January 7, this year the accused invited the victim to come for medicine as he intended to travel. The victim obliged and after giving her the medicine the accused locked the door, had sex with her and warned her not to tell anyone. The prosecutor said the grandmother of the victim noticed a change in the victim's gait on her return home and when questioned, she revealed the ordeal she had gone through.

Chief Inspector Fosu said the matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested.

Meanwhile the medical report on the victim has not yet been received.

The police requested that the accused should be remanded for further investigations into the case.