Tema, Jan 13, GNA - The Tema Regional Office of the Domestic Violence an= d Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service recorded a total= of 1,020 domestic violence cases in 2009.

The Unit whose jurisdiction covers Tema Main, Ashaiman Division, Sakumon= o District, Tema New Town, Dodowa and the Ada Districts, also recorded a to= tal of 1,397 non-maintenance of family-related cases during the period. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rebecca Nyamah, Tema Regional DOVVSU Co-ordinator, revealed this on Tuesday in an interview with the Gh= ana News Agency in Tema.

Out of the total domestic criminal cases, 1,019 cases were true cases, 1= 18 were sent to court, 31 convicted, 77 still pending trial, 71 of the cases=

have been closed, one was discharged while 830 cases were still being investigated.

She indicated that out of the 31 cases convicted, which was mostly defilement and having unnatural canal knowledge, the maximum sentence received was 25 years imprisonment while the minimum was seven years in jail.

ASP Nyamah said the top five recorded cases were Assault (546), Defilem= ent (141), Rape (47), Stealing (45), and Threat of Harm (44).

Other offences, she added, included Threat of Death, Criminal Abortion, Unnatural Canal Knowledge, Offensive Conduct, Sexual Harassment, Child Stealing, Attempted Murder, Abduction and Child Trafficking. The Ashaiman Division recorded the highest number of cases of 326 and 48=

for Assault and Defilement respectively, during the period.

ASP Nyamah said of the 1397 non-maintenance of family cases recorded, 32= 8 were prosecuted at the family tribunal while 122 were handled by the Soci= al Welfare Department. The rest were eight cases sent to FIDA and six referred to the Commissio= n on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The DOVVSU Regional Co-ordinator advised the public not to settle domest= ic violence cases at home especially defilement, but rather report all crimi= nal activities to the relevant authorities.