Pastor in court over rape of mother-in-law

Frank Frimpong, a 25-year-old Pastor of a spiritual church in Sunyani on Tuesday appeared before the Sunyani community tribunal for allegedly raping his mother-in-law. He pleaded not guilty and the tribunal granted him bail to re-appear before the high court on January 14, 2002 for trial.

The Prosecution’s case was that in October last year, the victim Madam Naomi Nyarko, 50, sent word to her daughter, who is the wife of Frimpong requesting her to come and accompany her to the hospital.

The daughter informed her husband about the mother's message and Frimpong, volunteered to go and take the woman to the hospital.

Frimpong bought a pie and a bottle of coke for the sick woman, who after taking the coke felt dizzy and slept. Frimpong is said to have taken advantage of the mother-in-law's situation and raped her, after which he sent her to the hospital.

Madam Naomi later informed some of her family members about her ordeal, but when the Pastor was asked to perform some rites since what he had done was a taboo, he refused, claiming that the charge was false.

Madam Naomi, therefore, reported the matter to the police and Pastor Frimpong was arrested.