Trader fined 2.1 million cedis for cruelty

Techiman(Brong Ahafo), 9 March, ?99 ? A Techiman circuit tribunal has imposed a fine of 2.1 million cedis on Afua Animah, a trader, for canning her househelp mercilessly and allowing her son, Paa Kwadwo to use a blade to inflict wounds on her.

Animah, who pleaded guilty to causing harm, will go to jail for six months in default.

The tribunal ordered that two million cedis of the fine should be given to the victim, Miss Nafisatu Mamudu, as compensation.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Samuel K. Yeboah, told the tribunal chaired by Mr Nicholas Abodakpi, that Miss Nafisatu Mamudu had lived as a house help with Afua Animah, a trader at Techiman, for about a year. On February 11, this year, at about 4 pm, the accused, returned from town to find that Miss Mamudu had not satisfactorily grounded garden eggs meant for the day's soup. Chief Inspector Yeboah said Miss Mamudu explained that because she was suffering from pains in her fingers, she could not thoroughly grind the pepper and the garden eggs. The accused became offended and hit the head of Miss Mamudu with a stick and inflicted wounds on her. On February 13, when the accused was going to the market, she asked Miss Hamudu to wash her clothes and scrub the room but she returned later in the day to find that the assignment had not been completed. The accused became infuriated and flogged Miss Mamudu thoroughly. She later ordered her son, Paa Kwadwo, now at large, to use a blade to inflict wounds on Miss Mamudu's back while Animah held her hands.