Lebanese man remanded on allegations of rape
Rabih Haddad, the 39 year old businessman who has been accused of raping his 19 year old domestic help has been remanded into Police custody by an Accra District Court.
Haddad whose plea was not taken is being held for rape.
The court presided over by Ms Aret Nsemoh ruled that that it did not have the jurisdiction to grant bail hence remanded him to reappear on December 19.
Mr Ralph Poku Adusei, who represented Haddad, prayed the court to grant him bail based on his medical condition.
According to defence counsel, the court risks the chance of trying a dead man if he was remanded into lawful custody because his client was suffering from a heart condition.
He said Haddad if confined could die as a result of shortage of breath thereby leading to cardiac arrest.
“Yesterday whiles in custody, my client fainted and was rushed to the Police Hospital and the case investigator could attest to that. I pray that if the court would confine him, he should be confined to a hospital.”
According to him due to time constraints, he was unable to file the accused person’s medical report to the court but he was going to produce and provide prosecution with the medical records.
Defence counsel said Haddad, married with two kids aged two and four, has stayed in the country for the past 12 years and had credible people who would stand sureties for him.
He said that the fact did not support the charges hence Haddad should be admitted to bail.
Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Mr Kweku Bempah informed the court that the matter was under investigations and awaiting DNA test to prove the case of rape or otherwise.
Supt. Bempah prayed the court to remand him into Police cells near the Police Hospital.
Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong a former Attorney General was in court watching brief for the victim.
The facts as narrated by the Prosecution was that the victim is a 19 year old Togolese who was engaged as a domestic house help in the house of Haddad.
Supt. Bempah said the Haddad is a Lebanese resident at Airport Hills, Accra.
Prosecution said in the month of November, this year, the victim was employed by the accused as a house help and he was in the boys quarter of the house with another house help.
The prosecutor said ever since the victim moved to the house the accused had persistently harassed the victim and insisted to have sexual intercourse with her anytime occupants including Haddad’s wife were not in the house.
Supt. Bempah said on November 30, this year, in the afternoon Haddad lured the victim into one of the rooms upstairs of the house and had sex with her after all the occupants in the house had left.
Prosecution said the victim reported the incident to a co-worker in the house but both kept the incident to themselves for the fear of losing their jobs.
On December 2, this year, between 4:00pm to 5:00pm when Haddad’s wife and kids had gone out, Haddad requested for coffee from the victim.
The victim then proceeded to the kitchen to prepare the coffee and Haddad approached the victim and demanded sex from her.
Prosecution said the victim resisted and that infuriated Haddad who slapped her on the face and held her neck and dragged her into the master bedroom.
According to prosecution Haddad stripped her naked and had sex with her on the bed.
Soon after the act, Prosecution said the accused person warned her not inform anyone in the house and he took his bath and left the house in his car.
Prosecution said victim for the second time reported her ordeal to the co-worker who in turn passed the information to a Police officer who was on duty nearby.
The matter was therefore reported at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Airport upon which Haddad was arrested.
Prosecution said the victim was issued with a medical report form to seek treatment while DNA test is conducted to confirm or otherwise the allegation of rape.
Haddad has however denied the offence, the prosecution said.
Source: GNA