Accra, June 18, GNA - Five persons who allegedly beat, tortured and poured acid on a young lady on Thursday appeared before an Accra Circuit court. The victim Juliana Serwaa, 18, sustained a fractured leg and various degrees of injuries and blisters at her lower body. The accused persons are Hamedu Yakubu 29 and Mohammed Iddrisu 26, scrap dealers and Issah Zakaria 32, Tahiru Manafi 23 and Iddrisu Hadi, traders.

They all pleaded not guilty and the court presided over by Justice D.E.K. Darkeste granted them bail in the sum of 2,000.00 Ghana cedis each, with a surety. They will appear on July 9. They are also to report to the police once a week until the next adjourned date.

According to the prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector J. K. Anim, the victim and the accused persons live in the same vicinity at the Konkomba Yam Market.

He said on May 29, there was fire-outbreak at the market, which spread to other wooden structures.

Chief Inspector Anim said a group of young men numbering about 20 and wielding clubs, stones, cutlasses went amok and attacked innocent people especially women at the market.

He said they beat their victims severely and tortured them on suspicion that they had cause the fire to destroy their property. Chief Inspector Anim said the victim, Juliana, a trader at the market rushed to her house where the fire was burning to remove her belongings, but was caught by the gang, who subjected her to beatings and also poured acid on her. Juliana sustained severe burns with blisters on both legs. A report was made to the Police who issued Juliana with a medical form to attend hospital.