Asamankese, March 19, GNA - Francis Agboba, a 41-year-old farmer, has been remanded in prison custody by the Asamankese Circuit Court over alleged assaulting and raping a 72-year-old woman. Agboba who pleaded not guilty is to re-appear before the court on March 30.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector Osei Owusu said the victim, a farmer, lived at Ahodwo village near Nankese, while her assailant lived at Nankese but was a farm labourer at Ahodwo. The prosecutor said at about 2200 hrs. on February 20, this year, the old woman, while returning from nature's call met the accused who was standing by the road.

Agboba, he said, then held the woman, violently pushed her down and sexually assaulted her and left her to her fate. The prosecution said though very weak, the septuagenarian managed to wobble home and narrated the ordeal to her children who in turn reported to the police.

Inspector Owusu said on February 23, the accused was arrested in his hide-out by a group of men and handed over to the police. Agboba admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.