Pen pal remanded for raping seamstress

Agona Swedru, Jan 12, GNA - A 24 year-old unemployed Philip Quartey from Babianiha, a suburb of Agona Swedru who conspired with his friend to rape a 19 year-old seamstress and her friend was remanded into prison custody by a Circuit Court at Swedru when he made his second appearance. The friend, Ransford Ebo Saah, 25, a student who also attempted to rape the friend of the seamstress was, however, granted bail. They would reappear on January 27, 2006.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector H.N. Koffie told the Court presided over by Mr Charles Adjei Wilson that the Philip was a friend of the seamstress' pal who leaved in Takoradi in the Western Region. According to prosecution on the November 14, 2005 the first accused asked the seamstress to accompany him to buy fried yam. On the way, they saw the seamstress friend and the second accused in a taxi in front of her house.

Chief Inspector Koffie said already the accused persons had made up their mind to share the two ladies and so asked them to accompany them to the house of Philip for more money and as soon as they entered the room the first accused locked the door and kept the key in his pocket. He said the first accused then drew a pair of scissors, a belt and plastic coat hanger to assault the seamstress into submission and had sexual intercourse with her, while the second accused was fondling the breast of the seamstress' friend.

The prosecution said the first accused sent his friend and the other lady out of the room, while he satisfied his lust after, which he asked the victim to go home but the two ladies reported to their parents who in turn reported the rape to the Women and Juvenile Unit of the Police Service (WAJU) at the Swedru Divisional Police Headquarters and the accused were arrested and charged with the offence. 12 Jan 06