Sodomy suspect remanded in prison custody

An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday remanded a juvenile football coachcoach in prison custody after he had been charged for sodomising a 14-year-old boy. Inspector Irene Oppong, Public Relations Officer of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), told the court that in August 2007, the accused, Samuel Nii Dega Annan, a football coach training juveniles at the Azumah Nelson Sports Stadium in Accra, embarked on a tour with the boys to Benin where they were lodged in a classroom. She said during the tour, coach Annan invited the victim to another classroom, undressed him and forcibly had sex with him through his anus. Inspector Oppong said the act continued in the house of the accused at North Kaneshie in Accra after they returned to Accra. She said in September last year, the victim fell sick and all attempts by the parents to cure him at various hospitals proved futile. The prosecution said upon interrogation by the victim's parents, the teenager disclosed and confessed his sexual escapades with his coach since August 2007 Inspector Oppong said a report was therefore lodged at the DOVVSU by the parents where a medical form was issued for the victim to be sent to the hospital for treatment. She said when Annan was interrogated he confessed to the act and was subsequently charged with the offence.