Man, 30, Rapes Pregnant Woman

Buer ApekuTHE TEMA Circuit Court ‘B’, presided over by Mrs. Anamdah Akins, has remanded a 30-year-old fitter, Buer Apeku, for allegedly raping a twenty-one-year-old pregnant woman, Ruth Tugah, a resident of Tugakope in Ada.

The accused person, who also resides in Accra, was probably in that community to finish a job he was doing, but when he saw pregnant Ruth he could not resist her and ended up raping her although she is pregnant.

According to Chief Inspector Mary Assunta, Ruth, who is three months into her pregnancy, was sent by her grandmother in the early afternoon of December 3, 2009 to purchase some provisions from Kasseh, a nearby village. However, when Ruth was returning to her village she was called by the accused person.

Ruth, thinking the accused needed her help, did not hesitate to answer. The prosecutor said the accused then asked Ruth where she was going in the hot afternoon, and after receiving his answer he immediately and forcibly carried her to a nearby bathroom.

The prosecutor continued that Ruth, who was already feeling weak due to her pregnancy, started shouting for help but the accused quickly covered her mouth with his hand and placed her on the bathroom floor as a struggle ensued.

The accused was however able to overpower the pregnant Ruth, forcibly removing her undergarment and having sexual intercourse with her.

After the wicked act, the accused reportedly left a weak and helpless Ruth on the floor. Traumatized by her ordeal, Ruth remained on the floor for a while until she was finally able to regain enough strength to make her way home. She then disclosed her ordeal to both her uncle and grandmother, after which a report was made to the police. A medical report form was issued so she would go for an examination, where it was discovered that Ruth was very depressed, extremely weak and experiencing severe abdominal pains.

The accused, who denied knowing Ruth after he was arrested and put before the court following investigations, has since been remanded in police custody, while Ruth is still receiving treatment at the Dangme East District Hospital.

From Dorcas Larbi, Tema