A 28-year-old pregnant woman in Obuasi, Adwoa Adoma, is to serve a 12- month jail sentence for her inability to pay a GH ¢220 fine to the Obuasi Magistrate Court in a case in which the convict was found guilty of infringing pain on the fellow human being and a minor for that matter.

The six-month old pregnant woman was initially punished by the Court, chaired by his Worship, Owusu Sekyere, to pay the fine, failure of which she would serve the sentence.

But the convict, who was a corn seller, told the court that she could not pay the fine therefore the Judge condemned her to prison to serve the sentence.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Mohammed Y. Agumah of the Tutuka police station, told the court that the convict on the afternoon of June 17, this year, poured hot soup on the face of a certain 12-year-old boy, Isaac Dwamenah.

He said the victim on that fateful day had entered the house of the convict to pick a ball he and his colleagues had played into the house when he was given that raw deal.

According to Chief Inspector Agumah, immediately the victim entered the house to pick the ball, the convict, who claimed the ball had hit her, became infuriated and began insulting the boy.

He noted that though the victim accepted wrong doing and without delay apologized but the convict did not take kindly to the apology and irately removed the soup she was cooking on fire and poured it straight on the face of the victim.

The prosecutor briefed the court that the victim suffered serious burns on the face in the process which led to the swollen of the head.

He said the victim, whose shouts for help attracted people in the neighbourhood to the crime scene, was instantly rushed to the Obuasi Government Hospital for medical attention.

Chief Inspector Agumah also noted that due to the severity of the burns, the victim spent two weeks in the hospital receiving medical treatment.

Pronouncing judgment, the Judge observed that justice has no respect for any particular individual, irrespective of ones condition.

He therefore entreated pregnant women not to think that when they commit crime they would be dealt with leniently because of their condition.

The Judge said he gave the verdict to send a strong signal to people, that no matter what their personality and condition, the law would deal with them squarely when they went wrong.



Source: Daily Guide