A woman in court for arson

Abena Agyeman who allegedly set ablaze a four-bedroom house and personal effects of Benjamin Arthur at Teshie Okpoi Gonnor estimated at GH?220,000 on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Abena pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful entry and causing of unlawful damage and was granted GH?20,000 bail with two sureties and would re-appear on April 19.

Police Inspector A. Afetsi, prosecuting said the complainant works with a non-governmental organisation while the accused who is self employed resides in Tema.

He said sometime in 1998, the two met in the United Kingdom and fell in love, eventually they returned to Ghana and continued their relationship.

The prosecutor said in December 2011, the relationship became sour and they broke up.

Inspector Afetsi said during the morning of March 21, the accused sneaked into the four-bedroom house of the complainant when all the inmates had left for work and set it ablaze.

He said the accused after the incident attempted to escape but a witness in the case spotted her and raised the alarm, leading to her arrest.

The prosecutor said when the accused's handbag was search a plastic bottle containing some quantity of kerosene, two match boxes and a plier were found and she was subsequently detained by the police for investigations.

Inspector Afetsi said it took personnel of Ghana National Fire Service two hours to bring the fire under control.

He said the entire building and property were destroyed by the fire, and after investigations she was charged with the offence.**