Seamstress convicted for pouring hot soup on a tenant

Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - A seamstress who poured hot soup on a fellow tenant and caused degrees of injuries on her body was on Tuesday convicted to a fine of GHC600 by an Accra Circuit Court. Grace Andoh, in default will go to jail for a year. Grace caused harm to the complainant, Ernestina Owusu, a trader, by intentionally pouring hot soup on her after a hot argument between them.

She pleaded guilty to causing unlawful harm before the court presided over by Mrs Doris Bimpong.

The court further ordered Grace to pay GHC2,000 as compensation to Ernestina as well as pay all her medical claims. Grace was convicted by the court on August 11 this year, but her sentence was deferred to August 30, 2011. The court, however, granted her bail in the sum of GH¢10,000, with two sureties. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kofi Blagodzi, the prosecutor, told the court that Grace had fixed a drying line which stretched to the complainant's door, and when she dried her clothes, it apparently covered the entrance of the complainant's door to her room.

DSP Blagodzi said on August 7, 2011, in the morning, Grace again dried her clothes on the drying line, but her action infuriated the accused, after the complainant had complained that it was making her uncomfortable.

The prosecutor said in the evening the accused started casting insinuations, engaged in verbal abusive words, and suddenly poured hot soup on the complainant.

He noted that the accused, after realising her diabolical act, rushed to the Achimota Mile 7 Police Station to lodge a complainant against the complainant.

DSP Blagodzi said the complain ant also rushed to the police later with her husband, and met the accused person at the charge office. The police investigated the accusations and charged the accused with the offence.