An Accra Circuit court presided over by Mrs Agyemang Budu has sentenced medical doctor at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Dr. Sulley Ali-Gabass to 25 years imprisonment.
According to the ruling, the evidence provided by the prosecution was very substantial which proved the guilt of the accused of the charge of defilement .
The judge however discharged Dr. Gabass of the charge of unnatural carnal knowledge which she described as “bad in law.”
Justice Agyemang Budu also indicated her decision was to serve as deterrent to people involved in such actions.
[contextly_sidebar id=”rPEuIBN23jIjl3UuDDQQZ5Hy74vpejR5″]Dr. Gabass who has been in custody since June 2014 was charged with two-counts of defiling a child under 16 years and unnatural carnal knowledge, an offence he has denied.
How the story unfolded:
October 22, 2014: The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Western Regional Police Command launched investigations into a case in which a medical doctor is alleged to have sodomized a 16-year-old senior high school student.
October 23, 2014: Three health bodies, including a regulator, assured Ghanaians that they will not shield Dr Sulley Ali-Gabass from any legal process being pursued by mandated constitutional bodies in his alleged sodomy case.
October 24, 2014: Ali Gabass was remanded in prison custody until November 7, 2014.
November 7, 2014: Some journalists were assaulted by relatives of Dr. Ali Gabass at the Cocoa Affairs Court when they tried to take photos of the doctor.
November 27, 2014: The 16-year-old boy who was allegedly sodomized by Ali Gabass was interrogated by some lawyers at the Accra Circuit Court.
December 1, 2014: The Accra Circuit Court for the second time dismissed an application for bail by lawyers of Ali Gabass.
January 7, 2015: The Accra Circuit Court hearing the case involving Dr Sulley Ali Gabass adjourned the case to January 23,2015 for continuation of cross examination of the 16-year-old victim by the defense counsel.
March 16, 2015: The Doctor, Dr. Nii Armah Adu-Aryee, who diagnosed Ali Gabass’ alleged sodomized victim testified before the Court. He told the court which was held in camera that the alleged victim had tested HIV positive.
May 6, 2015: Ali Gabass’ lawyers filed submission of no case praying the court to drop all charges against their client.
May 19, 2015: The presiding judge in the case involving Dr Sulley Ali Gabass, adjourned the case to May 20 but expressed her unhappiness about the way the prosecutor was handling the case.
May 30, 2015: The Accra Circuit Court hearing the case dismissed a motion moved by Alii Gabass’ Defence Counsel for stay of proceedings pending an application for appeal.
June 2, 2015: Lawyer for embattled Dr. Ali Gabass has refuted media reports suggesting that his client has infected his alleged victim with HIV.
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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana