The Koforidua Circuit Court “B” has sentenced the 54-year-old father of the District Chief Executive for Okere to 9 years and five months imprisonment for attacking his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend and mother with acid at Awukugua in the Eastern Region.
The convict launched the acid attack on the victims in December 2020 while they were in their room at Awukugua resulting in severe injuries.
The incident occurred few months after the convict was slapped convicted to a fine of Ghc1,200 plus compensation of GHC1000 by a magistrate Court in Koforidua for circulating taken and circulating nude pictures of his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend. He was cautioned to stay away from the girl.
Delivering the Judgement on Wednesday, July 28,2021the Presiding Judge Her Honour Mercy Addei Kotei took into consideration the previous conviction to apply the maximum sentence. She made the sentence 9 years and five months instead of ten years because the convict has been on remand for five months.
Nana Yaw Mante was charged for obscenity contrary to section 281(i) B of the Criminal Offence Act, 29/60bin his previous case in Koforidua Magistrate Court “A”.
The Prosecutor, Sergeant George Defia told the Court Tuesday, May 19, 2020, that the convicted person and the victim, a Senior High School dropout are both natives of Awukugua in the Okere District of the Eastern Region.
According to the prosecuting officer, four (4) years ago, the accused met the victim who had dropped out of school due to financial challenges, and under the pretext of assisting her to go back to school, took undue advantage and entered into a sexual relationship with her.
The family of the victim became suspicious and confronted the accused person but he denied having sexual relations with the victim. The relationship hit the rocks due to disapproval and pestering by the family. However, in 2019, the accused convinced the victim and they reunited.
The convict – Nana Yaw Mante, for fear of losing the victim again, told her that he had taken her to a shrine and the gods were demanding to see her nakedness.
In November 2019, the convict lured the victim to Dawu near Adukrom-Akuapem where he recorded a series of sexually explicit videos of themselves.
He later circulated the videos and pictures of the victim to her Aunty and two other men he alleged was also dating the victim. The videos went viral on social media in February 2020.
The victim reported the incident to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua.
Nana Yaw Mante was arrested on February 7, 2020, and in his caution statement admitted recording the sexually explicit videos of the victim and sharing the same.
The receivers of the videos confirmed to Police during interrogation that the accused sent it to them but denied circulating on social media.
During cross-examination, Nana Yaw Mante who claims to be a businessman told the court Wednesday, May 27, 2020, that, the First Principal Witness in the case insulted him and threatened to forward the nude videos and pictures he sent to her privately, to his son who is currently DCE for Okere and send same to his political enemies (NDC).
But the First Principal Witness denied during cross-examination that she forwarded the sexual images to anyone.
He told the Court that, the 18-year-old girl forced herself on him to date her therefore it was incorrect claims that he forced the girl into a sexual relationship.
He explained that he reunited with the victim in 2019 after a breakup in 2018 because the victim begged that they come together again. He said the videos were taken with the consent of the victim.
Videos, pictures, and WhatsApp chats relating to the matter were tendered in evidence by the prosecution.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
