Crime & Punishment of Friday, 12 January 2018

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Septuagenarian in court for allegedly 'fingering' 3 year old girl

The suspect called the victim while she was playing and fingered her The suspect called the victim while she was playing and fingered her

A 77 year old unemployed man has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly inserting his fingers into the vagina of a three year old girl at La a suburb of Accra.

The victim is said to have bled profusely from the act as the victim’s pants and dressed became stained with blood when her mother decided to bath her. Medical examination conducted on the three year old showed that her hymen been “centrally perforated.” Sai Tortoe aka Abaalo charged with indescent assault, pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku released Tortoe on self recognisance bail in the sum of GH 5,000 cedis. According to the court, it observed that that Tortoe could barely walk on his own ss he was being assisted to walk in court.

He is to reappear on February 6. Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Adolphine Dzansi said that the complainant lives at La, Accra and she was the mother of the victim.

DSP Dzansi said Tortoe also resides in the same vicinity with the complainant. Prosecution said children within the neighbourhood usually play in the accused’s house because he has a bigger compound.

The prosecution said on December 2, last year, at about 4:00 pm, the victim and her friend went to play in the accused’s house and she (the victim) collected some sand and poured it at a bathhouse near Tortoe’s house.

The Prosecution said Tortoe who spotted the victim pouring the sand called her over and placed her on a platform, undressed her and inserted his fingers into the victim’s vagina.

According to prosecution, the victim who bled profusely as a result of the act, went home and failed to inform the complainant about it.

The Prosecution said the following day when the complainant was about to bath the victim she noticed blood stains in her pants and dress.

The complainant rushed the victim to a nearby clinic where it was discovered that the victim had been indecently assaulted.

The Prosecution said when a nurse on duty interrogated the victim, she mentioned Tortoe as the culprit.

DSP Dzansi said the complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and medical report form was issued to the complainant to send to medical facility for examination.

According to the prosecution the medical report indicated that the victim’s hymen has been centrally perforated. Prosecution said when Tortoe was arrested he denied the offence.