The Asokore Mampong District court has remanded into police custody six students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology for allegedly raping a first year student of the same university.
The accused who appeared remorseful when they stood before the judge were denied bail even after their counsel tried to justify to the court why they should be admitted to a bail.
“My Lord, these are young offenders and students currently writing their examination. They will be available anytime the court needs them and their parents are of good repute to stand in as surety for them. So I pray you admit them to bail so they can continue writing their exams,” lawyer for the accused, Richard Adu Darko argued.
But the head of legal and prosecution in Ashanti region, ACP Kofi Blagodzie vehemently opposed the bail request.
“These are students whom government and their parents have invested so much in to become responsible citizens. But have decided to do otherwise. A first degree case like rape, this is even not the appropriate forum to request for bail,” ACP Blagozie countered.
The judge, agreed with the prosecution defense and denied the accused bail.
They are to reappear on Thursday, August 18, 2020.
Facts of the matter
According to the police, on July 24, 2020 the victim was gang-raped by suspects, Patrick Fosu, Edwin Nii Noi Quaynor, John Wilson, Kingsley Asiedu Andor, Thompson Nti and Assafuah Eric; all students of KNUST and residents of Ayeduase.
Police preliminary investigation revealed that, at about 11.30pm on that fateful day, one of the accused – Patrick – who happens to be a boyfriend to the victim, asked her in a text message whether she wanted to have a threesome. But the complainant replied NO.
Around midnight, Patrick requested that the complainant escort him at a friend’s place in Ayeduase and soon after they got there, the suspect allegedly lured her into a dark room and forcibly had unprotected sexual intercourse with her.
Thereafter, five friends of Patrick entered the room, pinned the victim on the bed and also forcibly had unprotected sex with her.
On July 29, the complainant reported her ordeal to the Deputy Director of Students Affairs. The suspects were arrested by the university authorities and handed over to the KNUST police.
By Ibrahim Abubakar|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
