Woman jailed for throwing pepper into suspected rival's eyes

Asamankese, May 29, GNA - Doris Oforiwaa, an unemployed woman who doused peppered water into the eyes of another woman and inflicted cuts on her body over the suspicion of being the husband's girl-friend was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by the Asamankese Circuit Court on Friday.

Oforiwaa, who pleaded guilty to a charge of intentionally causing harm, was also fined one million cedis or in default serve additional six months in prison.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector G.D. Bruce said the complainant, Madam Comfort Badu lived at Nungua, near Accra, who frequented Akyem Otumi to buy palm oil for sale in Accra.

He said on February 16, this year, at about 8.00 p.m., Mad. Badu was conveying jerry cans of palm oil to the roadside when suddenly Oforiwaa, who was hiding in the dark, sprinkled a mixture of pepper and water into her eyes while accusing her of flirting with her husband. The court, presided over by Mr S.S. Appiah was told that, while Mad. Badu became helpless, the accused further attacked her with a blade and inflicted several cuts on the left side of her face and abdomen.

She raised alarm and rescuers rushed her to the St. Dominic's Hospital at Akwatia where her wounds were stitched and she was discharged the next day.

Chief Inspector Bruce said a complaint was lodged with the police and when Oforiwaa was arrested she admitted committing the crime.