The woman who accidentally inflicted cutlass wounds on the hand of her 5-year-old stepson has been fined 85 penalty unit equivalent to GHC 1,020 or in default serve 18 months in jail. Efua Abeduwa pleaded guilty to the charge of causing harm to the boy at the Abura Dunkwa District Court in the Central Region
A story broke of how a 22-year-old woman was said to have accidentally inflicted cutlass wound on the left arm of the stepson about a month ago at Ahomfie, a village near Abura Dunkawa and left it untreated. A week after, the wound started to deteriorate and gradually got out of hands resulting in the decomposition of the arm. The left forearm of the boy was rendered non-functional as doctors said the veins and cells in it had all died. The stepmother said that she did not intend to cause injury to the stepson and that what happened was accidental.
Two men spotted the boy in town at Ahomfi on Monday, January 28 and became alarmed by rotten hand. Shocked by the boy’s story, the two immediately reported the matter to the District Director of NCCE, Mrs. Ellen Osei who also reported same to the police before taking him to the hospital the same day for medical examination.
The District Magistrate Court at Abura Dunkwa Kwamankese in the Central Region remanded Efua Abaduwa into police custody after she was picked up and charged provisionally for causing harm.
Thirty-six-year-old father of the boy, David Mensah, was also remanded for abetment.
Making their second appearance in court on Thursday, the court presided over by Justice Anthony Tabiri Abebrese said he took into consideration the condition of the stepmother [she’s pregnant] and the fact that she pleaded guilty to the charge.
Second accused, David Mensah, the biological father of the boy, pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetment to the crime and has been remanded to prison custody to reappear on the 28th Of February, 2019 where a full trial will begin.
Third accused, Isaac Eduful, who treated the boy at his facility when the boy’s hand was almost decomposing, was also hauled before the court.
The Prosecutors amended the earlier charge to include Mr Eduful since they believe he played a part in the boy’s current predicament.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of abetment but with an explanation. The court rejected his explanation that he had compassion on the boy and wanted to do something to help him.
He told the court, the boy was brought to him on the 21st of January, 2019 and even though, he did not have any license he had compassion on the boy and decided to treat him.
The court fined him 50 penalty units, equivalent to GHC 600 or in default serve 12 months in jail.
Curious residents who filled the court today expressed their disappointment at the punishment meted out to the stepmother after the court’s decision was announced. Some of them who spoke to Atinka News, said the punishment to the stepmother was too light, considering the permanent damage caused to the boy.
Meanwhile, the 5-year-old boy whose hand has been amputated is responding to treatment at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
