Couple jailed for "boiling" granddaughter's buttocks

A 51-year-old trader, who burned the buttocks of an 11 year old girl in hot water after accusing her of bed wetting, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Christiana Torkornu was sentenced to six months imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy and 12 months jail term on the charge of causing harm. The sentences are to run concurrently.

James Agbemavor, Christiana’s husband, 66, who also faced the same charges, was also sentenced to pay a fine of GH¢ 960 or in default go to jail for six months.

Their conviction came after the court, presided over by Ms. Sedina Agbemava, had found them guilty on the two charges.

As a result of the couple's actions, the victim, who suffered severe burns on her buttocks through to her abdomen, became bed ridden and she had to be hospitalized at the Police Hospital.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah, told the court that Christiana aka “Maame Wolo” and James were a couple who resided at Sankara, a suburb at Teshie in Accra.

The couple lived with the victim, their 11 year old granddaughter.

On January 8, last year, at about 0 830 hours, a caller who requested to remain anonymous, arrived at the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit at Nungua, and alerted the Police that Christiana, made her (the granddaughter) sit on bowl full of hot water.

As a result she had sustained severe burns on buttocks which had rendered the victim bed ridden.

ASP Acquah said the informant revealed that the victim had been secretly kept in a room in order to conceal the crime.

Prosecution said the Police quickly moved to the scene and the accused persons were arrested after their offence had been pointed out to him.

According to prosecution, the couple admitted that they had made the victim to sit in bowl full of hot water after bed wetting.

ASP Acquah said the Police compelled the couple to send the victim out of the room but they realized that the victim could not sit or walk because she had had severe burns on her buttocks through to her abdomen.