Man In Court For Pouring Acid On Wife

A 55-year-old galamsey operator at Adomanu in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region is in the grips of the law for allegedly pouring acid on his wife and seriously injuring her.

The suspect, Akwasi Owusu, is said to have taken that action because the woman decided to end their marriage. Feeling insecure, he put the acid into a syringe, known in Twi as “bentoa” and sprayed it on her injuring her severely.

He has been remanded in prison custody to reappear on January 8, 2013.

Afia Badu, 45, the victim of the attack who received injuries on the face, is pleading with the police to drop the charges against her husband because she still loves him.

However, the head of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Obuasi Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sophia Anim, says the police would not accept the woman's appeal.

DSP Anim told graphic.com.gh Friday that the matter was criminal in nature and as such the police would ensure the law took its course.

According to the victim who is a farmer, she and the husband lived together in the town.

She said the victim used to complain that her husband used to beat her severely and therefore decided to inform a relative in the town.

On the advice of the relative, she left the matrimonial home to stay with a relative in another part of the town.

DSP Anim said all attempts by Owusu to get the wife to return to the matrimonial home failed.

At about 10p:m on December 19, 2012, Owusu, armed with the syringe filled with acid, went to the house where his wife was staying.

He was said to have gone behind the window of the room in which the wife was sleeping and sprayed the acid through the openings of the window.

The bed on which Afia was sleeping was close to the window and so she suffered injuries on the face.

DSP Anim said Owusu admitted pouring the acid on the wife but said it was not intentional.