His accomplice, 60-year-old Shani Iddrisu, who is unemployed, has however been granted bail.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4e131jdu7hdjuyq5HBjvJAbajrN41rhq”]Alhassan Mahamud was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime contrary to section 23 of the criminal offences Act 1960 (Act 29), and defilement of a female under age 16, contrary to section 101 of the criminal offences Act, 1960.

Alhassan Mahamud pleaded guilty on the two counts, and was convicted on his own plea, and was duly sentenced by the Yendi Circuit Court Judge, William Appiah Twumasi.

Narrating the incident to the court, the persecutor Sgt. Nichodamus Yorke, said the victim, aged, 12 years, and a  primary six pupil, sells cassava flour (konkonte) for her grandmother after school.

On 24th February 2018, the victim was on her usual route when she came across the accused at his work place.

The accused proposed love to the victim and promised to take her as his second wife.

He then lured her into his friend, Shani Iddrisu’s room and forcibly removed her pants and had sexual intercourse with her. He gave her GHS 2.00 subsequently.

Shani Iddrisu, who met them in the act, also showed interest, and went out and later came in to have his turn with the victim, after Alhassan Mahamud had sexually abused the victim.

An eyewitness later reported the case to the victim’s uncle who later questioned the victim, and she narrated her ordeal.

The victim’s uncle later reported the case to the police, and the accused persons were arrested.

A Police medical report form was issued to the victim for treatment. The accused persons admitted the offence in their caution statements.

Meanwhile, Shani Iddrisu later pleaded not guilty and is currently on bail on health grounds.

The judge, William Appiah Twumasi, ordered that he attends hospital and produce evidence.

Shani Iddrisu is to reappear on the 12 of April 2018.

–

Mohammed Aminu M Alabira/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The victim, whose name has been withheld, was said to have been sexually assaulted after she drank a non-alcoholic beverage suspected to have been laced with a sedative, at a party thrown by some fishermen who were celebrating bumper catch on Monday, January 17, 2018.

The victim, who woke up the next morning with blood stains in her dress and in severe pain, reported her ordeal to her mother’s friend as her mother was out of town.

[contextly_sidebar id=”u6WwMV02fAelNRDwFw7uJO1FtRCMQK0g”]However the matter was not reported to the police until after the victim’s mother had returned from her trip on Monday.

Before the matter could be reported to the Police, the father of two of the suspects approached the victim’s mother for an amicable resolution of the matter.

The four suspects are currently at large.

Meanwhile the district police commander for the Ellembelle District Supt. Thomas Bayor who confirmed the incident to Citi News, added that a medical form has been issued to the victim whilst investigations and a manhunt for the suspects are underway.

“[The incident] has come to our notice. It was reported to us yesterday in the evening. The police are making efforts to arrest the suspects. In the meantime, we issued a medical form to the victim yesterday and she brought it this morning. Investigations have commenced into the matter.”

Supt. Bayor expressed displeasure that the parents of the victim had waited a week after the incident happened before going to the police.

“As a result of this, we have had to do a thorough investigation to know that we arresting the right perpetrators of the crime. The delay could also get the suspects to escape arrest. Defilement cases like this should not be kept at the house,” he added.

5 in court for sexually assaulting girl in Bantama

This comes on the back of some five persons who are currently facing trial for alleged sexual assault of an 18-year old girl at Bantama in the Ashanti Region.

The suspects were arrested after a video which reportedly showed them forcing themselves on the victim went viral on social media.

Lebanese ‘rapes’ househelp

A Lebanese national is also standing trial for reportedly raping his Ghanaian househelp at his residence in Accra

Rabih Haddad was recently granted bail by an Accra High Court to the tune of five hundred thousand cedis (GHc500,000) with two sureties to be justified.

The suspect, who took ill in December after his arrest, has been on admission at the Police Hospital till date.

Five arraigned for alleged gang rape in Osu

Five persons including four Junior High School students have also been arraigned for their involvement in the alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl at Osu in Accra.

The five have been charged with indecent assault, child pornography and defilement after they allegedly inserted their fingers into the victim’s private part, fondled her breasts and forcibly had sex with her.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He was charged with indecent assault after he allegedly inserted his fingers into the genitals of the three-year-old girl in a swimming pool, when he had said he was teaching her to swim.

[contextly_sidebar id=”TsMqMuVulDIGUntOxJgnpbhTPSTQ1hAc”]The judge sitting on the matter had earlier convicted him to a fine of GHc1,200 and GHc4,200 as compensation to the victim, but the mother of the victim rejected the compensation.

The case has thus been recalled by the judge, and will be heard again on Wednesday in the wake of a Citi News report on the matter.

Background

When the Indian national, along with a counterpart offered the swimming lesson, the mother of the children initially hesitated, but she agreed after the strangers convinced her that learning to swim early was the best way.

While the Indians were with the girl, the mother was filming them with her phone and in between the session, the woman noticed her daughter was crying, but she misinterpreted it as a reaction to the fear of being in the pool.

The doctor who conducted medical examinations on the three-year-old girl concluded her genitals were bruised by the penetration of a finger.

The police were involved, but the mother of victim suspected an attempt to cover up the matter.

Her attempts to get the Tarkwa Police to follow up on the issue proved futile, forcing her to fall on the Nsuta Police to effect his arrest.

Her confidence in the police began to shrink after their suspicious conduct with the bosses of the Indian suspect.

According to the woman, who spoke to Citi News, in the course of pursuing the matter, the Indian suspect sought an out of court settlement, but soon changed his mind, saying he was ready to face the court.

She also lamented how the police prosecutor impressed on the judge that presided over the matter in court to fine the suspect rather than to jail him.

She said she was forced watch the police negotiate the compensation from an initial GHS8,400 suggested by the judge, to GHS4,200.

‘Defiled’ 3-yr old girl at risk of long-term trauma – Doctor

Dr. Joseph Darko, the Physician who examined the three-year-old girl alleged to have been sexually violated in a swimming pool at Tarkwa in the Western Region, is worried about the potential trauma the girl could grow up with.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Dr. Darko said, “the implications of such an action will probably not be felt now. Apart from the pain the little girl went through, she probably will also [suffer] the long-term effects of what has happened.”

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By: Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking on Eyewitness News, Dr. Darko said, “the implications of such an action will probably not be felt now. Apart from the pain the little girl went through, she probably will also [suffer] the long-term effects of what has happened.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”zrrfFwSLi78NlzrgXW4IBblCnxMfezD3”]He said she may “associate the fears of what she had with her surroundings, probably fear of men and water and all that. She might grow up being an introvert because of what has happened,”  thus, he suggested some psychiatric help for the girl.

“I spoke with the mother. I told her the child will need some form of assessment and so on to prevent the future implications.”

Dr. Darko also said it was clear that, per his assessment, her injuries sustained in her genital area were “as a result of some form of assault. They were not natural bruises that she had there.”

An Indian national was picked up as the prime suspect in this sexual assault.

It all started when two Indian nationals swimming in the pool asked to teach the children how to swim.

The mother of the children initially hesitated, but she agreed after the strangers convinced her that learning to swim early was the best way.

While the Indians were with the girl, the mother was filming the process with her smartphone.

‘Little girl cries’

In between the session, the woman noticed her daughter was crying, but she misinterpreted it as a reaction to the fear of being in the pool.

Unaware to her, the Indian, was sexually abusing her, and the cries, were cries for help.

One of the Indians held the 3-year-old girl closely to his chest with his right hand while inserting a left finger into the little girl’s vagina.

The doctor who conducted medical examinations on the 3-year-old girl said her genitals were bruised.

“She had sores around her genitals, around the vagina and the hymen had sores around it,” the doctor said.

‘Police case’

The victim’s mother suspects attempts by the police to cover up the matter.  She returned to the Tarkwa Police after an initial report to them with the medical report.

She also hired a private detective to help track down the Indian molester who she had captured in a video on her phone.

Her attempts to get the Tarkwa Police to follow up on the issue proved futile, forcing her to fall on the Nsuta Police to effect his arrest.

Her confidence in the police began to shrink after their suspicious conduct with the bosses of the Indian suspect.

‘Out of court settlement’

According to the woman, who spoke to Citi News’ Caleb Kudah, in the course of pursuing the matter, the Indian suspect sought an out of court settlement, but soon changed his mind, saying he was ready to face the court.

‘Don’t jail him’

To further hurt her heart, the mother lamented how the police prosecutor impressed on the judge that presided over the matter in court to fine the suspect rather than to jail him.

She said she was forced to bitterly watch the police negotiate the compensation from an initial GHS8,400 suggested by the judge, to GHS4,200.

‘Seeking justice’

The victims mother is seeking justice for her 3-year-old daughter whose genitals have been bruised by an Indian national and betrayed by law enforcement body in her own country to sell her daughter’s rights for GHS4,200.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Central Region Police Command had taken over investigations into the case, following a directive from the Inspector General of Police.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Y4GxdodIWIpO01Yb0xpFjhwdQ7AHte5S”]The Police Service in a tweet on Friday, indicated that, the case had been duly investigated by the Central Police Command, and that the “case docket had been forwarded by the Police to the Attorney General’s Department for study and advice.”

The four-year-old was allegedly defiled by an 18-year old suspect, and is said to have bled for three days, according to her parents.

Medical reports proving otherwise

But according to Accra-based Joy FM, a medical report from a doctor at the St. Francis Xavier hospital at Assin Fosu into the alleged defilement, found the victim’s hymen intact, with no evidence of bleeding.

A police clinical psychologist, Dr. Bernard Brew, who conducted the examination put the girl on anti-biotics and directed her parents to report to the police.

The chief in the area was reported to have declared the suspect innocent after a ruling from the gods, and was accused of impeding investigations into the incident.

This case of abuse sparked outrage among the public, and prompted campaigns in support of the alleged victim from some individuals.

Leave defilement cases to Police – Otiko to Chiefs

In the wake of the incident, the Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba, asked traditional leaders to desist from arbitrating criminal matters, including the case involving the 4-year old.

Madam Otiko, in a statement sympathizing with the four-year-old victim, stressed that the Police must have first say in these matters.

“We acknowledge the role of our traditional and opinion leaders; however, we would like to advise them not to arbitrate on such criminal matters. Defilement is a criminal offence and all such acts should first be reported to the Police.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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The girl, whose intestines and uterus are believed to have been affected after the heinous act, is responding to treatment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SisYoxBXIKeSBFrsVTvXwYfPD7XpiX9D”]However her family says they are struggling to continue the treatment due to financial constraints.

A philanthropist donated GHC 1,000 to the family earlier this month, through the Central Regional Police Headquarters, to cover her weekly medical reviews and check-ups at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

However, when Citi News visited the victim’s family at Komenda on Saturday, the forty-six year old grandmother of the girl disclosed that the amount received has already been spent on transportation from Komenda to the hospital and back, as well as on medical expenses because the girl is yet to be placed on the National Health Insurance Scheme.

“It costs us GHC 300 each day we go for a review at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Now, we are financially dry. We have already spent the cash donation we received. We need money that will make it possible to send her to hospital every Monday and Tuesday”, the grandmother revealed.

In July this year, the suspect allegedly lured the 9-year old girl to a secluded place one evening, and defiled her.

The suspect is said to have carried the victim home when he noticed she was in severe pain, and was rushed to the Cape Coast Metro Hospital.

She was later referred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital where a team of doctors performed a surgery on her, and was on admission there for weeks before she was discharged to be brought for review weekly.

The suspect was arrested and arraigned before a Cape Coast Circuit Court, but is currently on bail.

The grandfather of the girl, a fifty-four year old mechanic, had been bearing the cost of medical treatments and the legal costs, but he told Citi News that he is now financially challenged and is unable to perform that role effectively.

In his appeal for support, he said, “This girl has been badly bruised, and we only pray it doesn’t affect her future. It’s a big blow to this family. We are appealing to all those who can to come to her aid because she could be an asset to Ghana in the future.”

He is appealing to Ghanaians and the government particularly, to fiercely fight defilement in the Central Region and the country as a whole, saying, “All those perpetuating such cruel acts should stop it, and must be dealt with; Ghanaians used not to be like this” he noted.

This incident is said to have happened long before the one at Assin Dadientem also in the Central Region, where a four-year old girl was allegedly defiled by a seventeen year old.
–
By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Some of the victims from the village of Kavumu were just 18 months old.

The men allegedly targeted young girls between 2013 and 2016 because a spiritual adviser told them that their blood would grant them supernatural protection.

The alleged militia leader, Frederic Batumike, a provincial legislator, and the other defendants deny the charges.
Rights groups hope the trial will help to end a culture of rape as a tool of war in DR Congo.

“The start of the trial is a strong signal in the fight against impunity,” Jean Chrysostome Kijana, an activist representing the victims, told Reuters news agency.

Proceedings started 10 hours late and lasted only 20 minutes on Thursday, according to Reuters, during which time the defendants’ names were read aloud.

Advocacy groups have told Reuters that the case has been particularly difficult to investigate because the victims were so young.

“Their families were often asleep when the alleged rapes occurred,” Reuters reports.

–

Source: BBC

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The victim was initially given medical treatment at the Bawjiase Health Centre, and was later referred to the Agona Swedru Government Hospital for further treatment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BbVtiNhQcwQlUIhG1L4XHuGu6J3Ekp45″]But for the kindness of a medical doctor of the Swedru Government Hospital who offered to attend to the girl without any payment, the victim would have been denied the treatment and endorsement of her medical form, as her parents could not raise the required fee for the cost of the endorsement.

The victim was alleged to have suffered the callous act from an 18-year old neighbour named Yavor on Thursday, October 2, and the case was reported to the police on October 4.

The Central Regional police have mounted a search to arrest the suspect who is currently on the run.

The police are also counting on the general public for any information on Yavor for his arrest and prosecution.

The Central Region has been inundated with cases of rape and defilement recently, and recent visits to the region by both the Gender and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, and the Interior Minister, Ambrose Derry, sought to assure the nation that their respective Ministries are working on curbing the menace.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The suspect, Hope Tublu, was said to have forcefully had sex with his neighbour’s granddaughter after luring her to his room to watch movies a fortnight ago.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Zozm4tGjsul1sdXbkLEQyuaGhI6kKQPK”]According to the Police, the suspect, after the alleged act, ushered the victim out of his room and warned her not to divulge the defilement to anyone or risk dying.

The victim was alone and bleeding, when she was met by a middle-aged woman, who saw her struggling to walk on her way to the Dekpor Basic School.

The said woman noticed the blood stains on her, and semen in her panties, and after interrogations, the victim confirmed she was defiled.

Examination conducted on the victim by the medical officers at IHDN Mission Hospital at Weta, revealed abrasions and sores in her vagina.

Laboratory tests conducted revealed that she had contracted a urinary tract infection as a result of the forced sex.

The suspect, a barber and a Commercial Motor-Rider, who had recently been involved in a motor accident, pleaded for time to nurse his leg injuries, but was denied bail per the nature of the offence.

He has since been remanded pending final investigations and subsequent court appearances.

The Dekpor incident comes to the fore in the heat of the public outcry over the alleged defilement of a four-year-old girl at Assin Dadientem that recently occurred in the Central Region.

The Central Regional Police Command has taken over investigations int that incident, whilst the suspect is yet to be apprehended.

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By: King Nobert Akpabli/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The chief in Assin Adadientem was reported to have declared the suspect in the alleged defilement case innocent, after a ruling from the gods, and was accused of impeding investigations into the incident.

[contextly_sidebar id=”d2leVgCwEdUmnTG35USRq3SebZnNTas3″]The four-year-old was allegedly defiled by an 18-year old suspect, and is said to have bled for three days, according to her parents.

Madam Otiko, in a statement sympathizing with the four-year-old victim, stressed that the Police must have first say in these matters.

“We acknowledge the role of our traditional and opinion leaders; however, we would like to advise them not to arbitrate on such criminal matters. Defilement is a criminal offence and all such acts should first be reported to the Police.

The Minister has since directed officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Children’s Department to visit the victim and her family “to ascertain the facts about her welfare for necessary action to be taken.”

“I am also preparing to personally pay a visit to the little girl and her family to affirm our readiness to support the victim to receive justice and restore her dignity,” she added in her statement.

This case of abuse has sparked outrage among the public, and has prompted campaigns in support of the alleged victim and awareness creation for the rate at which minors are being defiled.

Madam Otiko herself described the numbers as “extremely worrying”, noting that in 2015 alone, DOVVSU recorded defilement 1,196 cases, with only 16 not involving a girl-child.

“The Ministry wants to assure Ghanaians that we are very sensitive to issues concerning the welfare of the vulnerable in our society and will continue to promote their rights, their well-being and development. We are liaising with other agencies for justice to be carried out for this little girl to serve as a deterrent to such abusers.”

The Central Region Police Command has since taken over investigations into the alleged defilement but no arrests have been made so far.

Find below the full statement

THE MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, HON. OTIKO AFISAH DJABA CONDEMNS THE DEFILEMENT OF 4-YEAR OLD GIRL AT ASSIN DADIENTEM

The defilement of any child is horrifying, traumatic and unacceptable. My attention has been drawn through media reports to the defilement case involving a 4-year old girl at Assin Dadientem in the Central Region. As Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, I strongly condemn what has happened in no uncertain terms since it violates the fundamental human rights and dignity of this innocent girl.

Whilst waiting for the Police Report, I have directed officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Children’s Department of my Ministry to visit the victim and her family to ascertain the facts about her welfare for necessary action to be taken. I am also preparing to personally pay a visit to the little girl and her family to affirm our readiness to support the victim to receive justice and restore her dignity.

We are also collaborating with the Ghana Police Service to ensure the perpetrator and all those connected to this criminal act are brought to book.

To further demonstrate our commitment to the protection of children, our officers of the Domestic Violence Unit and Children’s Department, specifically; Madam Victoria Natsu and Madam Helena Obeng- Asamoah respectively, have condemned the act (Joy News TV- 24th October, 2017 and Executive Breakfast Show on Class Fm on 26th October, 2017).

The defilement of any child is extremely worrying, in 2015 alone DOVVSU recorded 1,180 cases of female defilement and 16 males.

The Ministry wants to assure Ghanaians that we are very sensitive to issues concerning the welfare of the vulnerable in our society and will continue to promote their rights, their wellbeing and development. We are liaising with other agencies for justice to be carried out for this little girl to serve as a deterrent to such abusers.

The public is advised to report cases of defilement, rape and all forms of sexual abuses to the nearest police station or any law enforcement agency for the necessary processes to be initiated so that the evidence required by the police for investigation is not destroyed.

Parents are advised not to leave their children alone and also be very mindful of who they leave their children with when they are absent, since the perpetrators of defilement are people close to the family and/or trusted relations.

I want to emphasise that the protection of our children is a collective responsibility and I thus entreat all members of our communities to be more vigilant.

We acknowledge the role of our traditional and opinion leaders; however, we would like to advise them not to arbitrate on such criminal matters. Defilement is a criminal offence and all such acts should first be reported to the Police.

The Ministry wishes to remind the public that the survivor is a minor and we should all make an effort to protect her identity and dignity.

I would like to thank the media and the general public and assure all Ghanaians that my Ministry is following up on this case seriously to its logical conclusion.

Signed:

Hon. Otiko Afisah Djaba

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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