Court orders lawyers to produce four students in Amina's case

Accra, May 30, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Monday ordered lawyers to produce four students allegedly involved in sexually abusing a Madina-based petty trader to the Police to be charged and arraigned.

The order came after defence counsel for nine other students halted the issuance of bench warrant against the four saying they would produce them at the next court sitting. The lawyers contended that the four were not at large as stated by the prosecution but were absent because they had not been informed to appear before the court.

Mr Thomas Auben, one of the lawyers, said the four students appeared before the University of Ghana Disciplinary Enquiry and they were ready to produce them in court. According to Mr Auben he was surprised that the prosecution was creating the impression that the four students were at large. The four students are Alexander Aryee, Benedict Boamoah, Jesse Boamah and Edward Tsito.

When the case was called today, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kofi Blagodzi informed the court that the complainant, Amina Haruna, was indisposed.

DSP Blagodzi applied for a bench warrant for the arrest of the four students who have not yet appeared before the court. He contended that the Police had written to the University to assist them to trace the four students but have not been able to trace them.

DSP Blagodzi said if the four were available the police would vary their charge sheet and charge them officially. Meanwhile the nine students who were present on Monday, have each been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢9,000 after they pleaded not guilty on May 6.

They are facing four counts of conspiracy, assault by imprisonment, indecent assault and causing harm to Amina Haruna. Amina was allegedly arrested by the students at one of the University halls and stripped naked while others inserted their fingers into her private part for allegedly stealing a laptop. The nine students are Francis Wiredu Attah, Tornu Mark Dickson, Moris Awuregya, Nana Osei Asiamah, Gideon Agyei Ayirdaga, Aboyadana Amobila Gabriel, Afeatse Godfred, Evans Addai Boateng and Obed Banini. The case of prosecution is that at about 2330 hours on March 30, Amina was arrested at Mensah Sarbah Hall Annex B for allegedly stealing a laptop and a mobile phone belonging to one of the students. The students retrieved the stolen items from Amina and thereafter locked her in a room until 0300 hours and subjected her to severe beatings.

The prosecution said the students stripped her naked, inserted their fingers into Amina's private part until she started bleeding. She was rescued by some security guards and handed over to the Police who in turn rushed her to the Police Hospital where she was on admission for four days.

According to prosecution, some of the students filmed the molestation, distributed copies to some media houses and others posted the incident on the internet.

Amina identified some of the students during an identification parade and some were identified in the video footage and photographs. They are to reappear on June 20. 30 May 11