Culprit and relatives threaten mother of defiled child

Nkawie (Ash), June 7, GNA - An accused who is standing trial for defiling a 10-year-old primary school pupil, has subjected the mother of the victim to threats and intimidations.

The case which is pending before the Nkawie Magistrate Court, has it that, Joseph Boateng of Atwima-Koforidua, 39, the accused and his relatives, led by one Kofi Adu have subjected the mother of the victim to threats and intimidation.

Madam Dora Coffie, mother of the victim, has therefore made a passionate appeal to the Abuakwa police and the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service to save her from molestation. Narrating the story to the Ghana News Agency at Nkawie at the weekend, Madam Coffie said she assisted the accused, who is the brother of her late husband and also a member of the Bokankye Presbyterian Church, where she worships to get accommodation at Atwima-Koforidua when he was ejected from the house in which he lived at Bokankye. She said on May 7, 2004, the suspect told her after their normal prayer meeting that he had a vision that her daughter was dead. As a result, Madam Coffie said she started fasting and praying together with her daughter and the suspect.

At one of the all night prayer sessions, Madam Coffie said they retired to sleep in the same prayer room at dawn and while they were asleep, Boateng sneaked out and defiled her daughter who informed her later.

"I immediately went and informed Mr George Asamoah, catechist of the church in the presence of the elders, including Madam Comfort Doku and Mr Kwasi Ackah where he (suspect) admitted the offence and pleaded for clemency".

Madam Coffie said together with the suspect, church elders and the catechist, the victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) where he (suspect) again admitted in the presence of Dr Bobitey, the medical officer who treated the girl that he committed the offence. She said the case was therefore reported to the Akropong police who later transferred it to the Abuakwa police for further investigations.

Madam Coffie said on May 12, the suspect was put before the Nkawie magistrate court where he was remanded in prison custody but was granted bail later.

She said following the granting of the bail to the suspect, he together with his relative led by Kofi Adu have made her life very miserable through threats and intimidation. Madam Coffie therefore appealed to the Abuakwa police and WAJU to restrain the suspect and his relatives and any other person or group of persons from intimidating her.