Labourer Caged For 25 Years … For Robbing And Raping Pregnant Woman

convict Eric Ntiamoah

A 35 year old labourer has been jailed 25years by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Aboagye Tandoh, for robbing and raping a pregnant woman, at Pokuase near Accra.

Eric Asamoah pleaded not guilty to charges leveled against him, although all the prosecution witnesses pointed to him as the perpetrator of the crime. The convict used a knife to threaten his victim, who is three months old pregnant, collected her bag, GH c700, a mobile phone and raped her in addition. The case had been pending before the circuit court for the past four months, until he was convicted yesterday after a full trial.

To judge Aboagye Tandoh, the 25 years prison sentence would serve as a deterrent to others and send a strong signal to the society that such crimes would not be countenanced. The judge also commended the investigator, Detective Corporal Castro K. Ntiamoah with service no.(38889) , of the Tesano Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) for a good job done. Adding if he had the power he would have promoted him.

Facts
The complainant is a three months old pregnant woman and a student of Accra Polytechnic, who resides at Pokuase ACP, whilst the convict, Eric Asamoah, 35, is a labourer at White House and lives at Ofankor Barrier, near John Teye School.

On August 8, 2015, at about 9:30pm, the complainant alighted at Pokuase bus stop after closing from school, with the convict standing on the other side of the road and closely monitoring complainant's movement.

When the complainant turned onto a rough road, heading towards her home, the convict quickly pulled a knife and ordered her to stop. The complainant obliged, whilst the convict further instructed her to give him her bag, containing a Nokia XL mobile phone valued at GHc700 and other personal items.

The convict collected the bag and forcibly had sexual intercourse with the complainant and after satisfying himself, he left the scene. Four days after the crime, the complainant’s husband called her phone to find out if they could trace it.

The convict received the call and the complainant's husband feigned having been in possession of some money belonging to the convict and wanted to meet him and hand over the said money. They then arranged to meet at Ofankor.

The following day, the convict met the husband of the complainant for the deal and he was arrested. The convict, during investigation insisted that, he bought the phone from one Richard, whom he could not lead the police to.

The complainant, however, identified the convict as the one who robbed and raped her on the said day. Prosecution told the court that, the rape docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General's office for advice, whilst the robbery case was put before a court.

By Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei
(maamedag@gmailcom)