Second HIV Test On Rape Victim Proves Negative

A second test to establish whether or not a 17-year-old alleged victim of rape in Kumasi had contracted HIV has contradicted the earlier result.

The HIV Rapid Response Screening conducted on the victim at the Mediscience Laboratory Service at Bantama in Kumasi on August 19, 2,009, proved positive and raised a lot of concern among family members.

But a second test later conducted at the Voluntary Testing Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) on August 25, 2009 as part of police investigations into the alleged rape case, has proved negative.

A test conducted on the suspect in the rape case, Charles Kofi Kuuire alias Adable, a native of Bolgatanga who is 46 years and claims to be a technical officer at the Crops Research Institute at Fumesua in Kumasi, also showed that he was HIV negative.

The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DVVSU) in Kumasi, who are investigating the case, have referred the docket to the Attorney-General Department (A-G) in Kumasi for advice.

The docket was referred to the A-G on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 and the DOVVSU are waiting on their advice to determine the line of action they would take.

Kuuire allegedly raped the victim four months ago and efforts by the police to arrest him proved futile until he was arrested on Thursday, August 20, 2,009.

Earlier, the victim told the Daily Graphic that the suspect, who had divorced her wife, used to be a family friend and had regularly advised her to refrain from indulging in any promiscuous lifestyle.

She said on the day in question, the suspect invited her to visit him at home for an urgent discussion and considering the cordial relations between them and the reputation he had built as a counsellor, she obliged and paid him the visit.

She said when she reached the suspect’s residence, he quickly locked the door of the apartment, which is in a secluded area of Kokode in Kumasi, removed the keys, held her tightly and dragged her into his bedroom.

The victim stated that she protested vehemently when she got to know the amorous intentions of the suspect and drew his attention to the cordial relationship between them.

She said that notwithstanding, the suspect continued to hold her tightly and forcibly undressed her and sexually assaulted her.

She said she suffered a typhoid fever attack a few years ago and was operated upon and had since not recovered fully from the surgical operation she went through.

The victim added that against the background that she was a virgin, she could not match the strength of the suspect and bled profusely from the sexual act.

She said because the incident took place in a secluded area, her continuous cry for help could not attract any attention and this made it possible for the suspect to put her through a lengthy agony to satisfy his amorous instincts.

“As soon as he finished, I protested vehemently and cried a lot because I was not ready for a man, and besides the doctors who operated me insisted that I should not sleep with any man until I fully recover from the surgical operation,” she said.

The girl said she was afraid that her sister would severely reprimand her, so she did not confide in her, but rather threatened to curse the man.

According to her, fearing that she would carry out the threat, the suspect later approached her sister to settle the matter amicably at home.

It was at that level that her sister reported the case to the police, but efforts to arrest him proved futile until the suspect was arrested on Thursday, August 20, 2009.

When the Ashanti Regional DOVVSU Police Commander, ASP George Appiah-Sakyi was contacted, he confirmed the arrest and said investigations were still ongoing.

Story : George Ernest Asare