13 students discharged over Amina's case

Accra, July 10 GNA- An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday discharged 13 students of the University of Ghana, Legon who have been accused of sexually abusing a Madina-base petty trader, Amina Haruna at Mensah Sarbah Hall, Annex ‘B’.   Amina was alleged to have stolen a laptop and a mobile phone.   The court presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava discharged them for want of prosecution.   After making frantic effort to reach the prosecution on phone, Defence counsel Mr Rockson Dafiamekpor prayed the court to discharge the accused persons unconditionally.   Mr Dafiamekpor lamented over the various adjournments and the non appearance of the complainant in court.   But soon after the court had discharged the students, Superintendent of Police Kofi Blagodzi, the prosecutor, entered the court room saying the police had completed investigations and therefore handed the document to the Attorney General.   The 13 students charged were officially with four counts of conspiracy, assault by imprisonment, indecent assault and causing harm to Amina. They have pleaded not guilty and were each admitted to bail in the sum GH¢ 9,000 bail.   They are Alexander Aryee, Benedict Boamoah, Jesse Boamah and Edward Tsito.   The rest are Francis Wiredu Attah, Tornu Mark Dickson, Morris Awuregya, Nana Osei Asiamah, Gideon Agyei Ayirdaga, Aboyadana, Amobila Gabriel, Afeatse Godfred, Evans Addai Boateng and Obed Banini.   The prosecution’s case is that at about 2330 hours on March 30, Amina was arrested at Mensah Sarbah Hall Annex B for allegedly stealing a laptop and a mobile phone belonging to one of the students.   The students retrieved the stolen items from Amina and thereafter locked her in a room until 0300 hours and subjected her to severe beatings.   The prosecution said the students stripped her naked, inserted their fingers into Amina’s private part until she bled.   She was rescued by some security guards and handed over to the Police who in turn took her to the Police Hospital where she was on admission for four days.   The prosecution said some of the students filmed the molestation, distributed copies to some media houses while others posted the incident on the internet.   Amina identified some of the students during an identification parade and some were identified in the video footage and photographs.   Meanwhile university had taken disciplinary sanctions against the accused persons after a committee had submitted its report.   GNA... Read Full Story