Trial of 13 UG students for alleged indecent assault adjourned
Tempers nearly flared up when a Circuit Court in Accra hearing the case of the 13 students of the University of Ghana, Legon, accused of sexually abusing a Madina-based petty trader, Amina Haruna, at Mensah Sarbah Hall, Annex ‘B’ was adjourned.
Some parents of the accused persons contended that they travelled from Kumasi to Accra because of the trial only for it to be adjourned to October 3.
Policemen had to ensure order outside the court since most of them expressed their anger by shouting to protest at the development.
When the case was called, the Prosecutor Deputy Superintendent of Police Kofi Blagodzi told the court that the complainant, Ms Haruna was not in court.
Amina was alleged to have stolen a laptop and a mobile phone at the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana.
They are charged with four counts of conspiracy, assault by imprisonment, indecent assault and causing harm to Amina.
They have pleaded not guilty.
The court presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa has admitted each of them to GH¢9,000 bail.
The students 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.
Others are Alexander Aryee, Benedict Boamoah, Jesse Boamah and Edward Tsito.
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 and 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.
Source: GNA