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16.01.2015 General News

KKD Out

By Daily Guide
KKD Out
16.01.2015 LISTEN

The embattled broadcaster and showbiz icon, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, popularly called KKD, after a long fight for freedom, was yesterday granted bail by an Accra Human Rights Court on humanitarian grounds.

KKD is hoping to have the rape charge against him dropped following a letter purportedly written by his accuser that she was no longer interested in the case.

However, the Attorney-General (A-G) says it doubts the authenticity of the said letter allegedly written by Ewuraffe Orleans Thompson, 19, the complainant who had accused KKD of raping her.

It is unclear what might have triggered the A-G's doubt and whether it will press on with the charges of rape, even if it emerges that the letter is credible.

The 19-year-old student at the centre of the rape scandal was on Tuesday said to have stated that she was no longer interested in pursuing the case.

The complainant is reported to have written to the state, which is prosecuting KKD for rape, to convey her disinterest and desire to see the charges dropped.

According to sources, the two-page letter, dated January 12, 2015, is addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Attorney-General's (A-G's) Department and copied to the Chief Justice, the Registrar of the High Court and the Ghana Police Service.

The complainant reportedly cited the 'media frenzy' that followed the arrest of KKD and the unceasing buzz and social media posts, which she described as insensitive, for her decision.

She claims she is unable to continue cooperating with the police who are prosecuting the case, stressing that since the story of her rape by KKD broke, her life had taken a dramatic turn.

The victim further stated that she had not been able to appear in public without attracting hushed gossip and finger-pointing.

Doubt
But appearing before Justice Kofi Essel Mensah of the Human Rights Court, Ms Cynthia Lamptey, acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), stated that the A-G was checking the authenticity of the said letter which she noted had raised a lot of issues that must be looked at.

In respect of the letter, she said it was only the A-G who could take a decision on the said letter, although the parties in the case had earlier on met in the judge's chambers on the missive.

Sick KKD
However, Anthony Forson Jnr., lead counsel for the accused, had brought a medical report on KKD signed by one Dr Eugene Tetteh to the court indicating that the accused was unwell.

He had earlier filed a 30-paragraph motion on notice for bail pending trial at the court in which KKD, among other things, had wanted to impress on the court that the sex he had with the lady was consensual after the police had charged him for rape; and a magistrate's court subsequently denied him bail.

Opposition

Although Ms Lamptey opposed the bail application arguing that KKD's remand did not cause his sickness, Justice Mensah ruled in favour of the applicant.

He stated that the right to life is invaluable, stressing that when a person is arrested it is the duty of the state to take care of the health needs of that person.

Freed

Justice Mensah accordingly granted bail to KKD in the sum of GH¢20,000 with two sureties.

Facts

It is the case of the prosecution that KKD, aged   49, at about 9pm on December 27, 2014 at the African Regent Hotel in Accra, had carnal knowledge of the 19-year-old student in a bathroom without her consent.

 Email: [email protected] 
 By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

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