Crime & Punishment of Friday, 4 April 2008

Source: GNA

Umbrella repairer charged with indecency freed

Accra, April 4, GNA - A 60-year-old umbrella repairer who was accused of displaying his manhood to three juveniles aged 10, 11 and 12 to demand sex was on Friday discharged by an Accra Circuit Court for want of prosecution.

Kwame Charles Adukpoe who was charged with gross indecency pleaded not guilty.

He was arrested and remanded on February 28, but the complainants have failed to appear in court.

Adukpoe created humour in the court when he was discharged. He started laughing and shouted to his colleague remand prisoners, who were waiting for their turn at the court, to pick his black polythene because he had been asked to go home.

As if he was being chased, Adukpoe ran out of the court premises. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim said Sarah Mensah and Veronica Agboli are mothers of the victims who reside at Ashongman in Accra.

The prosecution said the accused, who had been going round to repair umbrellas, got to know the victims on his rounds and asked them for sex anywhere he met them.

The prosecutor said Adukpoe further removed his manhood and showed it to the girls and told them that since it was small they should allow him to have sex with them.

The prosecution said the victims reported the incident to their mothers.

On February 28, this year, at about 1700 hours, the accused who was on his way to Dome, spotted the victims and alighted and asked them to allow him have sex with them.

The victims who became frightened ran home and informed their mothers about the behaviour of the accused.

The prosecution said the victims' mothers spotted the accused at a bus stop and he was apprehended and handed over to the police.