Court
A 38-year-old scrap dealer, Haruna Ishaq, has been arraigned before the Akyem Swedru Circuit Court for allegedly abducting and defiling a 15-year-old first-year student of the St. Francis Senior High School, and infecting her with HIV.
The case is being presided over by Her Honour Akosua Ataa Nyarko.
Ishaq pleaded not guilty to charges of abduction, defilement, and willful transmission of HIV.
He was granted GHC60,000 bail with three sureties to be justified and is expected to reappear in court on October 23, 2025, for continuation of the trial.
Before the bail was granted, the accused had been remanded twice in police custody. The presiding judge had considered a third remand but allowed bail after defence counsels Nana Asare-Djikunu and Richard Offin appealed on health grounds, arguing that Ishaq needed medical care.
According to the prosecution, the complainant — the victim’s mother — lives with her daughter at Oda New Lorry Park, where she sells iced kenkey and sobolo, while the accused resides at Oda CMB.
On April 26, 2025, the mother sent her daughter to sell drinks, but the girl did not return home. After three days of frantic search, the accused released the victim when he realised her mother was looking for her.
The complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service at Oda on April 30, 2025.
During police interrogation, the victim revealed that the accused had sexual intercourse with her during the three days she was held captive. Ishaq was later arrested and, in his caution statement, admitted to having a romantic relationship with the girl and confessed to the abduction and defilement.
A medical report from the Oda Government Hospital confirmed that the victim had been defiled and infected with HIV.
However, despite his earlier admission to police, Ishaq pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the court. The case has been adjourned to October 23, 2025.
Source: graphic.com.gh
