One of the maltreated boys
Gifty Oponwaa, a 32-year-old trader, has been convicted by an Accra Circuit Court after she admitted maltreating her son and nephew and beating them at the least opportunity which has resulting in various degrees of injuries on their backs.
She was arrested after a Good Samaritan saw the children and felt touched by their plight when they told him they were not allowed to go to school and showed him the bruises they sustained at their back as a result of the beating by Gifty.
Gifty was convicted on her own plea after she pleaded guilty to the offence of causing harm to the boys who were aged 12 and 7.
The trial judge, Sedina Agbemava, consequently convicted her but deferred her sentence till October 18, 2012.
ASP Sarah Ekua Acquah, who presented the facts of the case, told the court that the complainant was a Good Samaritan based in Kumasi whilst the boys, biological son and nephew of Gifty, live with her at Gbawe.
According to her, the trader visited her mother-in-law at Apedwa in the Eastern Region about three months ago and brought her nephew to live with her and her son.
The prosecutor noted that on October 5, 2012, at about 9:20 a.m., the complainant saw the two boys hawking large quantities of tomatoes, onions, plantains and yams.
Furthermore, she stated that the complainant asked the boys why they were not in school and they said Gifty asked them to sell the foodstuffs and not go to school.
The police officer said the complainant then asked them to take him to the trader but they said they would be beaten if they did so. Touched by their plight the complainant took them to the Odokor Police station where he lodged a complaint leading to the arrest of Gifty.
ASP Acquah noted that the 32-year-old admitted committing the offence during interrogation and was consequently arraigned after police concluded investigations.
By Fidelia Achama
