Lebanese suspect applies for bail

Rabih Haddad, the 39 year old businessman who has been accused of raping his 19 year old domestic help has appeal to an Accra High Court for bail.

On December 5, this year a District Court in Accra remanded into Police custody on a charge of rape.

The state has however filed an affidavit in opposition to the bail application.

At the High Court, Mr Justice Justine Kofi Dorgu, the trial judge said he needed to take a look at the affidavit in opposition.

According to him, he just saw the affidavit in opposition this morning.

“I would like to take a look at the entire application on its merit,” The trial judge said.

Mr Ralph Poku Adusei who represented the Haddad said they were before the court to seek bail because “”we have crisis on our hands.”’

Mr Adusei said since the commencement of the matter his client had been on admission at the Ridge Hospital.

He said Haddad’s admission at the hospital attest to the fact that he was unwell.

Mr Adusei was unhappy over how his client has been victimised by being called “Lebanese rapist” and the fact that the prosecution did not know why they arrested his client.

He said his client has filed an alibi.

The trial judge told defence counsel to avoid drawing conclusions in the matter adding when the alibi and the DNA test was conclusion, they could be of benefit for his client.

He said at the moment the hospital was the best for Haddad.

Ms Rebecca Smith, an Attorney from the Attorney General Office said the matter was under investigations hence have filed their affidavit in opposition to the bail application.

The Court then adjourned the matter to January 8, 2018.

The facts as narrated by the Prosecution at the district Court was that the victim is a 19 year old Togolese who was engaged as a domestic house help in the house of Haddad.

Haddad is a Lebanese resident at Airport Hills, Accra.

Prosecution said in the month of November, this year, the alleged victim was employed by the accused as a house help and she was in the boys quarter of the house with another house help.

The prosecution said ever since the alleged victim moved to the house the accused had persistently harassed her and insisted on having sexual intercourse with her anytime other occupants of the house including Haddad’s wife were goes out of the premises.

Prosecution said on November 30, this year, in the afternoon Haddad lured the victim into one of the rooms upstairs of the house and had sex with her when the other occupants of the house were not in.

Prosecution said the victim reported the incident to a co-worker in the house but both kept the incident to themselves for the fear of losing their jobs.

On December 2, this year, between 4:00pm to 5:00pm when Haddad’s wife and kids had gone out, Haddad requested for coffee from the alleged victim.

She then proceeded to the kitchen to prepare the coffee when Haddad then approached her and demanded sex from her.

Prosecution said the victim resisted and this infuriated Haddad who slapped her on the face and held her neck and dragged her into the master bedroom.

According to prosecution Haddad stripped her naked and had sex with her on the bed.

Prosecution said after the act the accused warned her not inform anyone and then took his bath and left the house in his car.

Prosecution said victim for the second time reported her ordeal to a co-worker who in turn passed the information to a Police officer who was on duty nearby.

The matter was therefore reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Airport upon which Haddad was arrested.

Prosecution said the victim was issued with a medical report form to seek treatment while DNA test was to be conducted to confirm or otherwise the allegation of rape.

Haddad has however denied the offence, the prosecution said.