Crime & Punishment of Friday, 5 November 2004

Source: GNA

Three women remanded for causing harm to pupils

Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - A circuit court in Accra on Friday remanded three women for causing unlawful harm to Daniel Offei and Kwame Collins, both of the Community Experimental School at Anyaa, near Accra. Eunice Asante Attaa, Akosua Nyametease and Abena Ofosuhene were charged with four counts of conspiracy, causing unlawful harm and assaulting two police officers.

Their plea was not taken, and they will re-appear on November 11. Police Chief Inspector Benedicta Akolgo told the court presided over by Williewise Kyereme, that the complainants are all teachers of the school, whilst the victims, Offei and Collins, aged 12 and 8 respectively, are pupils of the school.

Chief Inspector Akolgo said on November 2, this year the victims went to school with blade cuts on the tips of their right fingers, and could therefore not write.

The prosecution said it became difficult for them to write when asked by their teachers to write on the blackboard. When questioned, the victims mentioned Attaa and Nyametease, their aunts with whom they lived, as those who inflicted the cuts on them as their punishment for taking food without permission. Chief Inspector Akolgo said the school authorities invited Attaa and Nyametease to find out whether what the children were saying was right.

Not happy with the questions put to them, the accused persons rained insults on the teachers and threatened to inflict more punishment on the children.

The school authorities reported the case to the police, and the accused were arrested.

Chief Inspector Akolgo said, at the Charge Office, Ofosuhene refused to hand over her mobile phone to the Police before going to the cells.

The prosecution said she allegedly slapped the station Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Papaye Quaye and Sergeant Freeman Wemegah. After investigations they were charged with the offence, Chief Inspector Akolgo added.