Court revokes bail for suspect in a defilement case

Aflao, Sept.14, GNA - An Aflao Circuit Court on Tuesday revoked a 20 million cedis bail granted to a 21-year-old unemployed Etse Atakpah for defilement and remanded him in custody to re-appear on September 20. The Presiding Judge, Group Captain Martin Obeng-Ntim (rtd.), also ordered police to send Atakpah to the hospital for HIV/AIDS test. Atakpah, together with three other accomplices now on the run, appeared before the Court on July 4 for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old girl and the accused was granted 20 million cedis bail with one surety to be justified. The accused had pleaded not guilty.

Police Inspector Abraham Tetteh, prosecuting told the court that the victim resided with her parents at Denu where the accused also lived.

He said during the night of May 4 this year, the victim who was selling fish towards the main Denu market in search of a friend who left her wares in her (victim's) custody.

Police Inspector Tetteh said Atakpah and his accomplices met the victim near the market and one of them known as Suetor, snatched the sales the victim had made from her and they took to their heels while the victim pursued them.

The prosecution said the accused and his accomplices later held the victim, put her on the floor in a market stall and forcibly had sex with her in turns.

Police Inspector Tetteh said the victim who bled profusely, reported the ordeal to her parents and the police who issued her with a hospital form, she was treated and discharged at the Ketu District Hospital at Aflao.

He said two weeks after the incident, the accused was arrested while the other accomplices were still on the run and after investigations charged with the offence. 14 Sept.05