Kumasi, Sept. 23, GNA - Not satisfied with raping his victim several times at knifepoint at a racecourse, a 24-year-old rapist further took 10,000 cedis from the victim before bolting into the bush.

However, luck eluded him as friends of the victim alerted the area's neighbourhood watch committee who arrested and handed him over to the police.

Musah Issifu, who was arraigned before a Kumasi circuit court was on Tuesday sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in hard labour for rape and robbery.

He pleaded guilty to rape, robbing at knifepoint, escaping from lawful custody but pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill and unlawfully holding a dagger.

Police Inspector D.T. Alhassan told the court, presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Kwasi Mensah that the victim, a 15-year-old student, came to spend her holidays in Kumasi.

He said on August 19, this year, the victim decided to visit a sick relative at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) with some friends. Inspector Alhassan said on their way from the hospital at about 2100 hrs, she passed through the racecourse area where the accused suddenly emerged from the bush and ordered them to stop.

He said the girls took to their heels but Issifu chased them. He later caught up with the victim and at knifepoint, dragged her into the bush and raped her several times after which he demanded money from her or he will kill her.

According to Inspector Alhassan, for fear of her life, the victim led the rapist to some friends around the area who managed to raise 10,000 cedis and gave to him and he ran back to the bush. He said the friends then alerted some members of the neighbourhood watch committee around the area who pursued him into the bush, arrested and handed him to the police.