Wicked Mum Jailed


An Accra gender-based violence circuit court yesterday handed Mary Timah, a six-year jail term for burning the hands of her 14-year-old son over an alleged GH¢20 theft.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Rita Agyeman- Budu, found the accused guilty of causing harm contrary to Section 69 of Act 29/60 – an offence she denied.

Sentencing Timah, aged 40, the trial judge noted that according to the law the maximum sentence for the offence was 10 years.

She said the harm was caused intentionally, adding that Timah did not feel anything wrong with the act.

Victim Intervention
Mrs. Agyeman-Budu indicated that although the victim had written a letter of mitigation praying the court to pardon Timah because he had missed the mother, she was not obliged to accept the request of the victim.

The judge however, added that she had decided to reduce the sentence of Timah in respect of the said letter from the victim.

Mrs. Agyeman-Budu accordingly sentenced her to six years’ imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to others.

Facts

At the initial stages of the trial, Inspector Kofi Atimbiri had told the court that the accused is the mother of the child (name withheld) living together with the victim’s two other siblings at Osu, Accra.

He stated that on February 7, Timah returned from town and noticed that someone had broken into her wardrobe and stolen the aforementioned amount and that the accused strongly suspected the victim to be the one who stole it.

Inspector Atimbiri indicated that as a result, Timah called the victim into their room, locked the door and asked the victim who it was that stole the money.

According to prosecution, when the victim denied taking the money, Timah heated an electric iron and burnt the victim’s hand and cheek with it. He maintained that the victim managed to escape to the police station to report his ordeal.

Inspector Atimbiri disclosed that the victim was rushed to the Police Hospital where he was admitted, treated and discharged after some days.


More General News »


Comments:
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.