Beggar remanded for indecent assault

Accra May 17, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Tuesday remanded into prison custody a 48-year-old crippled beggar for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl.

Atta Abbey, who pleaded not guilty, is to appear on May 24. Abbey was sent away on Monday when he appeared before a similar court but the court did not give reasons why it turned him away. At today's sitting, Abbey had to be lifted on a table instead of standing in the dock so that his plea could be taken. The case of Prosecuting Inspector Isaac Ahor was that the victim lived at Osu with her uncle. Abbey also lived in the same vicinity. On May 8, this year, at about 1800, Abbey sent the victim to buy him food and to bring it into his room.

While leaving the room, Abbey held the victim's dress, pulled her and when she fell, he removed her panty, covered her mouth and inserted his fingers into her genitals.

Prosecution said after the act, Abbey gave the victim 10,000 cedis and asked her not to disclose her ordeal to any one to avoid being arrested.

A teacher of the victim, who saw her holding 10,000 cedis, questioned her and she narrated the incident to her and she in turn informed the victim's aunty. A report was lodged at Osu Police station. On May 9 Abbey, who heard that the Police was looking for him, quickly reported a case of offensive conduct against the victim's uncle to the Osu Police.

Prosecution said a medical form was issued to the victim and the case was referred to the Women and Juvenile Unit of the Ghana Police Service and Abbey was arrested but he denied the act. Police said during their investigations they gathered that Abbey was fond of sexually assaulting children in the area.