Woman at centre of alleged bus rape story in court

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - Amina Mohammed, the woman at the centre of the story of mass rape on an Accra-Bolgatanga bound bus, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday charged with publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic and deceit of public officer. Amina, a hairdresser, pleaded not guilty.

The court, presided over by Mrs Patience Tetteh-Mills, remanded her into Police custody pending further investigations.

Two prosecutors led by Mr Paul Assibi Abarigah, an Assistant State Attorney, prayed the court to remand the accused because if she were granted bail, she could interfere with investigations. According to Mr Abarigah, they were yet to contact other witnesses and take their statements.

He noted that based on the accused person's publication, the country was living in fear.

However, the defence team, led by Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, prayed for bail saying their client had indicated her readiness to appear to stand trial.

According to Mr Appiah-Kubi, the charges preferred against Amina, a mother of three, were misdemeanour. She should therefore not be refused bail.

He said Amina had relations who could stand as sureties and would not abscond.

The court, after listening to submissions of the defence and prosecution, declined bail and remanded her to reappear on November 9. Amina, who had been waiting in a police van, was brought to court amidst heavy security.

Dressed in a pink and wine doted lace, her face was covered as she was escorted to and from the court into the waiting police van.

Following the decline of bail, Mr Appiah-Kubi told journalists that they were heading to the High Court on Wednesday to seek redress.

The case of the state is that Amina lived at Ashaiman, near Tema. On October 11, she and her mother boarded an Accra-Tamale-Bolgatanga Yutong bus with registration number GN 263-10 to attend a funeral.

The prosecutor said Amina alleged that on their way, they were attacked by armed robbers at Kubiasem, near the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service barrier, before Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.

She claimed that the armed robbers compelled the men on the bus to rape the women adding that a man who was travelling with her 14 year-old daughter was made to defile his daughter.

This allegation, prosecutor said, was reported to a radio station and thereafter several radio stations took up the story and published it thereby causing fear and panic.

When the driver of the alleged bus was contacted, he told the police that on October 11, he left Accra with 47 passengers for Bawku through Tamale and Bolgatanga.

He said at about 10:00 p.m. he saw road blocks mounted by robbers but he drove through the road block.

The alleged robbers fired at the vehicle causing extensive damage to his bus.

He lodged a complaint at the Ejisu Police Station and continued the journey to the various destinations. Police investigations confirmed that there was an attempted robbery at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.