British businessman on bail pending sentence for assault

Cape Coast, June 20, GNA - Nathan Gilfillian, 30, a British businessman based in Ghana, was on Wednesday granted 20 million cedis bail with a surety to be justified, pending sentence, by a circuit court in Cape Coast for slapping a Ghanaian security man who allegedly fondled his 11-year-old daughter's breast.

Gilfillian, who pleaded guilty to assault, is to be sentenced on Friday June 22.

Also before the court, was the security man, James Mensah, 42, who pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and is to be re-arraigned on the same date.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Augustine Amonoo, told the court that on Sunday June 17, the alleged victim and her parents, who were in Cape Coast on holidays to visit the Elmina and Cape Coast castles lodged at the Sanaa Lodge Hotel.

He said in the evening, the victim went to the hotel's reception to watch an African movie on the television mounted there and Mensah took advantage of her parents' absence, put her on his laps, and fondled her breasts.

He also alleged that in the process, the girl ran off to her parents and reported Mensah to Gilfillian, who became furious, went to the reception, confronted Mensah and slapped him in the face. Gilfillian reported Mensah to the Domestic Violence Victims' Support Unit (DOVVSU), while Mensah also went to report him to the police and both of them were arrested and charged with the various offences.