Complainant, victim in rape case fail to show up in court
There was no show for the second time at the trial of the Volta Regional Director of the Ministry of Fisheries, Mathew Oyih, who is facing an alleged defilement charge at the Ho Circuit court.
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The case, which has attracted many people, especially family members of the accused person to court had to be adjourned because the complainant and the victim failed to show up.
The complainant and victim were to appear last Friday but they were absent, so the trial judge adjourned the case to yesterday.
The 14-year old victim was supposed been cross-examined yesterday in camera after giving her evidence during her first appearance.
A source at the court disclosed that when the case was called in camera, the Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Isaac A.A.Ahor, told the court that both the victim and the complainant were absent.
Judge Unhappy
ASP Ahor said he did not know why they were not in court as efforts to reach them on phone had proved futile.
Displeased about the statement, the Trial Judge, Mr Emmanuel Ayesu-Essampong, ordered the investigator to call the elder sister of the victim, who is the complainant, to find out why they were not in court.
After several calls by the investigator, without response, the court adjourned the case to April 17, 2015 and asked the prosecution to make their witness ready on the said date.
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Out Of Court Settlement
Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic has gathered that certain efforts are allegedly being made behind the scene to have the matter settled out of court.
An uncle of the witness, Mr Amega Yibor, has confirmed that the family is no longer interested in the case because of the pressure being mounted on them by chiefs and family members of the accused to have the matter dropped.
Background
Oyih has been charged with defilement of a 14-year-old pupil. The 51-year-old civil servant, who is currently on remand, has since denied the offence.
According to the prosecution, led by ASP Ahor, in July 2014, a witness in the case introduced the victim to Oyih as her younger sister.
Since then,it has been alleged Oyih had been inviting the victim to his house for sex after offering her money.
In March 2015, the victim reportedly missed her period and informed Oyih who, suspecting that the victim might be pregnant, allegedly gave her some medicines and instructed her to swallow two and insert two into her sexual organs to abort the pregnancy.
The victim on March 9, 2015, was rushed to the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho after complaining of abdominal pains.
A report was then made to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) on March 23, 2015 and the victim was given a medical form to attend hospital, where she was examined.
According to ASP Ahor, following a report issued by the hospital, Oyih was arrested.
False Accusation
In his caution statement, Oyih denied the offence but admitted that the girl was his friend.
In court on the first appearance, his lawyer, Mr Emil Atsu Agbakpe, described the facts of the prosecution as fabricated and added that the prosecution was using the accused’s generosity towards the victim to nail him.