Labourer fined for abduction

Asamankese, May 09, GNA - Charles Akoto, a labourer who locked up a 14-year-old house help in his room for two days has been fined five million cedis by the Asamankese Circuit Court. Akoto, who pleaded guilty would serve two years imprisonment in hard labour in default.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Eric Okyere said the victim, who was selling doughnuts and pastries at Akwatia on the morning of December 28, last year, met Akoto who bought 1,000-cedi worth of the pastries paid with a 20,000-cedi note.

He said the girl could not give a change but Akoto asked her to return later in the evening for the money and she agreed. Police Chief Inspector Okyere said when she returned, Akoto asked her to follow him to his house for the money and when the girl followed Akoto to his house lured her into his room and locked her up for two days.

The prosecution said the mistress and husband of the girl made frantic efforts to locate her and sought the assistance of the neighbourhood watch committee but to no avail.

Police Chief Inspector Okyere said at about 1900 hours on December 30, the girl managed to escape from the room and narrated her ordeal to a friend who with the assistance of the neighbourhood watch committee, arrested Akoto while attempting to board a taxi to escape from Akwatia and was handed over to the police.

He said after investigations Akoto was charged with the offence.