Mother Jailed 7 Years For Aiding Incest

A mother who encouraged her two children to indulge in incest has been jailed seven years by the Cape Coast Circuit Court.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of abetment and was sentenced on her own plea.

The woman, Francisca Hackman was jailed by the court for abetment because she charged Kofi Mensah, her 22 year old son GHC40 as Ndomfar (money charged for impregnating a girl before marriage).

Kofi Mensah who pleaded not guilty for having an incestous relationship with his sister, Ama Asumanba, resulting in a pregnancy, has been remanded in custody to reappear on June 6, 2012.

Ama has, however, been granted bail because she is a nursing mother.

The Central Regional Commander of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police George Appiah-Sakyi, said Mensah, a native of Abura Abekah in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in the Central Region, started the incestious relationship with his sister, Ama, at Abura Abekah.

He said Mensah’s mother, Madam Hackman, became aware of the relationship and warned the two several times but they continued with it.

DSP Appiah-Sakyi said some time last year, their mother detected that Ama was pregnant and when she interrogated her, it came to light that it was Mensah who had impregnated her.

He said Mensah accepted responsibility for the pregnancy, after which Madam Hackman charged him GH¢40.

He said Mensah paid the charge, after which he continued with the relationship.

Ama, however, continued to stay with her mother until she gave birth, while Mensah left the house to rent a room.

After Asumanba had given birth, Mensah again began putting pressure on the mother to release her to him as his wife to join him, since he had paid the Ndomfar.

Madam Hackman was said to have consistently refused to allow him to have his sister as a wife.

That, DSP Appiah-Sakyi said, infuriated Mensah, who then started issuing death threats to his mother.

Fearing for her life, Madam Hackman reported the threats to the Abura Dunkwa Police, who in turn arrested Mensah.

graphic.com.gh