Police investigate kidnapping, sexual assault of radio presenter
The Takoradi District Police Command has commenced investigations into the alleged kidnaping and sexual assault of a Takoradi based-radio presenter.
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According to the police, the current incident was the fifth on the same lady (name withheld), who had been associated with a case of kidnapping but had not been cooperating with police investigations for more than two years.
The presenter is said to have gone missing for almost a week and appeared about 12:30. a.m. yesterday and was rushed to the GPHA Hospital in Takoradi.
That followed social media publication of her pictures that went viral with the story that she had been abducted and sexually assaulted by unknown persons.
February, 2015
The police said they had recorded five incidents of abduction involving the victim within the last two years and that the incident before this latest one had been reported in February 2015.
They said before she went missing last week, police intelligence picked information that she was to be reported missing only to resurface with a case of kidnaping and assault.
The case involving the victim attracted public sympathy and her employers, Global Media Alliance, owners of YFM, put out her name and asked the public to help find her.
Her abductors reportedly sexually assaulted her and took pictures of the act, which they posted on Facebook. Some of the pictures have also been circulating on Whatsapp.
At hospital
When the Daily Graphic visited the GPHA Hospital about 7:30 a.m. yesterday, she was asleep. The medical team said she looked traumatised but was responding to treatment.
Doctors reported that apart from a bloodied left eye, no other physical bruises were immediately noticed on her body, but her dreadlocked hair had been cut.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Dr Boateng Duah, the Medical Director of the GPHA Hospital, said the victim had been brought to the hospital about 1 a.m. by two young men and a lady who were the victim’s co-tenants at their West Tanokrom residence.
He said those who had brought her to the hospital had explained that she came home about 12:30 a.m. almost naked and looking restless and requested food, since she was hungry.
Dr Boateng said the co-tenants said when the food was offered her, the victim threw it to the ground.
He said the Good Samaritans then rushed her to a hospital at Kwesimintsim, from where she was referred to the GPHA Hospital, where she was sedated after admission.
The medical director said the victim looked traumatised and would not say a word to anybody but asked constantly about her baby and wanted to know if her baby had eaten.
“Later, when some of her church members visited and the doctors asked about the whereabouts of her baby, they claimed she had no baby,” he said.
At the Takoradi District Police Command, the Crime Officer, DSP Husseini Awinaba, said the police had initiated investigations into the latest incident.
“Currently, we are unable to get any statement from the victim, as she is still speechless,” he said.
Hoax or reality?
Currently, the police are puzzled, as they cannot tell exactly what happened, since in the previous four cases the victim had not cooperated with the police.
The police said in all the cases, one Rahman Noonoo had helped in investigations and had been instrumental in providing information on the current alleged kidnapping case until the victim resurfaced.
No arrest
Contrary to media reports on social media that her boyfriend had been arrested, the police said no arrest had been made.
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has condemned the act.
The statement, issued by the Communications Advisor to the ministry, Mr Abraham Asare, said the ministry found it sad that perpetrators of that heinous crime did not only assault the victim but also shared photos of the act on Facebook.
“We condemn this reprehensible act in no uncertain terms and trust that the police will be able to find the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to book.
“We also plead with media houses and the general public to respect the privacy of the victim and stop publishing and sharing photos of her ordeal,” it said.
The statement said the ministry would follow the case closely to ensure that justice was done.
Press time
As of the time of going to the press yesterday, reports from the GHPA Hospital said the victim was out of sedation, adding that now that she had regained consciousness, some information could be taken from her.
According to the reports, the police and the hospital authorities would speak to the victim today.