Student accused of rape granted bail

Agona Swedru (C/R) Nov. 20 GNA- A former student of the Winneba Community Nurses Training School accused of raping a former female student of the school at a knife point has been granted bail. The Agona Swedru circuit court presided over by Mr. Nathaniel K. Osam granted the bail in the sum of 21,000.00 Ghana Cedis with three sureties. The plea of Maxwell Coleman, 30 who is facing two charges of rape and threat of death was not taken.

When the case was called, the complainant, Jennifer Courage was not in court and the Judge granted Coleman who had been in police custody in Winneba for four days bail to re-appear before the court on Monday Nov. 23 2009.

Mr. Victor Yankson, a legal practitioner operating in the Central Region is counsel for Coleman.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday the Winneba Municipal Police Commander ASP Martin Asamoah said Coleman and Courage who completed the Community Nurses Training School in 2008 and 2007 respectfully are currently in Winneba to re-sit some papers.

He said on Friday November 16 2009, Courage reported to the Winneba Police that in the evening of on November 13, Coleman raped her at a knife point near her rented house at Low Cost in Winneba. He was therefore arrested and placed in police custody, making it impossible for him to take part in the examination that started on that Friday.

ASP Asamoah said the police did not grant Coleman bail because they are not allowed to grant bail to people who are involved in rape cases. 20 Nov. 09