Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - An Accra High Court, presided over by Mr Justice G. A. Aryeetey on Wednesday sentenced a 45-year old teacher to 10-years imprisonment with hard labour for raping two pupils. Vincent Azumah, who was charged with two counts of rape, was sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count. The sentences will run consecutively

A seven-member jury unanimously returned a verdict of guilty. The court further ordered Azumah to pay a fine of 500,000 cedis on each of the counts. In default, he will serve an additional one-year jail term.

Sentencing him, the judge declared that it was sad to say the conduct of the Azumah had thrown the respect for the teaching profession into the gutter.

He said Azumah was "a dangerous animal in the society" and should not be let loose as he could go a long way to satisfy his sexual drive. "He should be confined to keep his sexual desires," the judge said. The facts of prosecution were that the victims who were aged 18 years and 16 years attending the same school but were in different classes.

According to the prosecution, on July 20, 1998, after school had closed, one of the victims was sent by one of the teachers to buy him food.

Later in the afternoon, Azumah called her and sent her on errand to the school office.

When the she entered the office, Azumah followed her to the office, closed the door and forcibly had sex with her. The prosecution said the victim started bleeding and reported the matter to her class teacher who in turn reported the matter to the police.

According to the prosecutor while the victim was weeping over her ordeal, another victim who saw her, also told her that Azumah had earlier on had sex with her on two occasions. However, she was afraid to tell anyone for fear of being dismissed as Azumah had threatened.