Farmer in court for raping married woman

A 26-year-old farmer, Apea Akandi, has appeared before a Bolgatanga circuit court for allegedly raping a 35-year-old married woman at Borogo, near Bongo in the Upper East Region.

His plea was not taken and the court, presided over by Mr Justice A. S. Kouro, remanded him in prison custody to reappear on another date.

Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector James Owusu said the victim, also a farmer at Apatanga in the Bongo District, is married with three children and stays with her husband.

He said on June 6, the victim and her sister went to a market at Bongo-Soe, where Akandi and his friend had also gone.

Chief Inspector Owusu said when it was getting late, the victim and her sister approached Akandi and his friend to pick them on their bicycles, a request which the two men willingly agreed to.

The prosecutor said on reaching Apatanga, at about 6.30 pm, Akandi diverted his course and rode towards his house but the woman protested.

The prosecutor said Akandi then stopped at a point and pulled the victim from the back of the bicycle and succeeded in putting her on the ground and as the woman struggled with him, Akandi tore her clothes, removed her underpants and forcibly had sex with her.

According to the prosecution, the woman shouted for help but nobody came to her aid.

He said after Akandi had satisfied himself, he left the woman to her fate.

Chief Inspector Owusu told the court that when the victim went home, she narrated the matter to her husband, who also made a report to the police and Akandi was arrested.