Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Source: GNA

Two juveniles, an adult before court for alleged gang-rape

Cape Coast, Jan. 12, GNA - Three persons, an adult and two juveniles, who allegedly gang-raped a 14 year old girl, were on Tuesday put before a circuit court in Cape Coast on charges of defilement.

The plea of Samuel Asifoa, an 18 year-old carpenter, and the juveniles Roger Spio-Gabrah, 17, and John Eshun, 15, both students were not taken. Asifoa was remanded in prison custody while Spio-Gabrah and Eshun were released to their parents for safe keeping to be brought back to court on Thursday, January 28.

The presiding judge Mr. Beresford Acquah said he released the two juveniles in order not to disrupt their schooling and asked their parents to ensure that they were brought to court on the next adjourned date.

Chief Inspector Charles Anku, prosecuting, told the court that on December 29 last year, at about 0400 hours, the complainant, who lived in Cape Coast, woke up to do her domestic chores only to realize that the door to her sister's room was opened, even though she had travelled. He said the complainant became curious and entered the room where sh= e met Asifoa and Eshun together with the victim while Spio-Gabrah spied at a distance. Chief Inspector Anku said when the complainant inquired about their mission in the room the victim alleged that she was lured there by the accused persons, who had sexual intercourse with her in turns. He said the complainant made a report to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Cape Coast where a police medical form wa= s issued to the girl for examination and treatment at the hospital. Chief inspector Anku said when the three were arrested, Asifoa and Eshun admitted the offence but Spio-Gabrah denied it while the fourth accused person, one Nana Prempeh, managed to escape.