Physically-Challenged Jailed For Assault

The presiding judge of the Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court, Mr Asmah Akwasi Asiedu, has rejected an explanation by a physically-challenged accused, Francis Tetteh, that he only obliged to a request by an 11-year-old primary two pupil that he should sleep with her.

Consequently, Mr Asiedu sentenced him to a jail term of 24 months with hard labour, saying that the consent of a child under 16 years of age was not a defence even if what the accused claimed was true.

The facts of the case as presented by Detecive Chief Inspector Isaac Teye Kwame were that, on October 15, 2008, at about 8 a.m, the mother of the victim sent her to fetch water from a well.

On her way, Francis trailed her and lured her to a nearly bush, removed her pant and brushed his genital organ around her's as he could not penetrate after several attempts.

The prosecutor said while the accused was in the act, a witness in the case who heard the victim groaning rushed to the scence and caught the accused person in the act.

He, raised an alarm and neighbours assisted in arresting Francis and handed him over to the Nuaso Police who also referred the case to the Akuse branch of the Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana police Service.

A medical form was issued to the complainant who sent the victim to the Atua Government Hosptial. The report from the hospital established that the victim had been sexually abused and had some lacerations around her private part.

Story by Ezekiel E. Sottie