Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Source: Daily Guide

Rapist doctor arrested

The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Tema Regional Police Command branch, have apprehended Nicholas K. Wood, the 38-year-old self-styled medical practitioner at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, who allegedly raped a 22-year-old lady.

The culprit, unlike other suspects who are placed in cells whilst investigations are underway, had been placed behind the counter since he was ‘smuggled’ into the police charge office last Sunday dawn by the police.

Whilst there, he interacted with unknown persons, relations and counsel and as well had access to a cell phone.

Mr. Wood is also under investigation for impersonation, as information gathered by the police revealed that he is not a doctor but works with a pharmaceutical giant in Ghana and supplies drugs to some institutions such as schools and health facilities.

Residents of Tema, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE expressed worry over why the police granted the suspect a self-recognizance bail in the first-degree felony case without proper checks, after he purportedly confessed to the crime.

The victim, who was allegedly raped by the doctor at his residence in Middle East, a suburb of Ashaiman, currently finds it difficult to walk properly and speak well as a result of the brutal incident which occurred last Tuesday.

She was traumatized since the day of the incident, which affected her education at a time of examination as a first-year university student.

The Police were said to have cautioned the victim to learn from what had happened without showing enough interest in the prosecution of the matter, which had attracted so much attention in the metropolis.

The victim’s family said they would go to any length to ensure justice was served, since they believed there was an attempt by the Tema DOVVSU of the Ghana Police Service to cover up the brutal rape case.

On July 15, 2014, the self-acclaimed doctor, a friend of the victim, was alleged to have lured the lady to his residence in the evening where he forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

A police medical report form was issued to the victim who attended the Tema General Hospital after reporting the matter to the police.

The medical report showed the victim suffered swelling in the right thigh and groin, coupled with some discharges from the private parts and a torn hymen.

Meanwhile, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has dissociated itself from the said doctor.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mustapha Salifu, after going through the hospital’s records of employees, management “can state emphatically that the said doctor is not a staff of the hospital.

“Management of the Hospital wishes to dissociate itself from one, Dr. Nicholas Wood, whose story was carried on the front page of Friday July 25, 2014 edition of DAILY GUIDE with the headline, KORLE BU DOCTOR IN RAPE SCANDAL,” a statement from the hospital read.

Meanwhile, the Tema Region Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olivia Turkson, said pieces of information gathered by her outfit suggested that Dr. Nicholas Wood could be an imposter.

She told Joy FM yesterday that the intelligence received within the past three days indicated that the “title he is claiming is not correct”.