Driver gets five years for brutalising his daughter

Accra May 4, GNA - A 26-year-old Driver, who brutalised his six-year old daughter for refusing to accompany her grandmother to the market, was on Tuesday sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour by a Circuit Court in Accra.

Michael Osei Bonsu beat up the daughter, used electric heater to singe her all over the body and confined her under his bed for hours until her grandmother went to her rescue.

Bonsu, who was charged with causing harm, pleaded guilty but said he had an explanation for his action, when he appeared before the Court chaired by Mr Kwadwo Owusu.

Bonsu admitted beating his daughter and explained that he heated a bucketful of water and after removing the heater the victim fell on it. The Court, however, rejected his explanation saying it was only meant to deceive it noting that the burns on the victim were scaring, therefore, convicted Bonsu on his own plea.

Police Chief Inspector, Emmanuel T. Boison told the Court that the victim lived with Bonsu, her father and her grandmother at Agege in Accra.

On April 22 Bonsu left the house thinking that the victim would accompany her mother to the market. The grandmother also left for the market leaving her behind.

In the afternoon, Bonsu returned home to see the victim watching television in a co-tenant's shop.

Bonsu invited the victim into his room and subjected her to beating for failing to accompany her grandmother to the market to sell her wares. Prosecution said after beating the victim, Bonsu plugged a heater and used it to singe the victim's thighs face, ear and her right arm. The victim became helpless and weak.

Bonsu then kept the victim under his bed until the evening when the grandmother rescued her and sent her to a nearby clinic. The Prosecution said Bonsu and his mother kept mute over the issue until April 28, when the victim's mother got wind of the matter and reported it to the Police.

Prosecution said the victim was currently undergoing treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. 4 May 04