Cross-examination in Sodomy Case begins
Cross-examination of the 16-year-old senior high school student who was allegedly sodomised by a medical doctor began at the Accra Circuit Court yesterday.
The case was heard in camera in the judge’s chambers where the defence counsel cross-examined the victim over the evidence he had given the court yesterday.
The court, presided over by Mrs Rita Agyeman-Budu, adjourned the trial to today for the cross-examination to continue.
After the court hearing, both the prosecutors and the defence counsel declined to speak to the media over what had transpired.
The frail-looking victim was taken through the back door of the judge’s chambers, his head covered with a striped black suit to shield him from media and public attention.
He was put into a waiting police vehicle and taken away, while Dr Sulley Ali-Gabass, the accused, was later put in another police vehicle and driven away.
The handcuffed Ali-Gabass, dressed in a round-neck T-shirt over a pair of brown khaki trousers, looked so well composed and well-mannered and smiled to acknowledge the presence of his family members and media practitioners.
Court order
The court, on November 25, 2014, ordered the prosecutors to produce the victim for the trial to begin.
The order followed the failure of the prosecution to send the victim to court, as had been agreed on the last adjourned date.
The court had stated that cases of that nature were sensitive and must be heard “expeditiously” and vowed to move to the location where the victim was to take his evidence should the prosecutors fail to produce him.
Charge
Ali-Gabass, a gynaecologist at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi, has been charged with two counts of defilement and unnatural canal knowledge.
Background
The facts of the case are that the victim resides at Kasoa, while Ali-Gabass is a medical practitioner at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
In September 2013, the victim encountered Ali-Gabass on Facebook and they became friends.
“They chatted online and communicated by phone for a while until October 2013, when Ali-Gabass arranged and met the victim at the Kasoa New Market area, where he forcibly had anal sex with him in his car,” the prosecution said.
About 7 p.m. on December 28, 2013, they met again at the same venue and Ali-Gabass had anal sex with the victim, after which he offered him a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone and GH¢20.
After the second sexual act, the student became ill, and on informing the doctor, he prescribed paracetamol tablets for the victim.
The act was repeated at the same venue in February 2014.
According to the prosecution, in March and April 2014, Ali-Gabass lured the victim to his (doctor’s) house at Alajo in Accra and again had anal sex with him.
“After the fifth incident, the victim started experiencing excruciating pains and complained to Ali-Gabass to give him money to attend hospital but he refused.
“Rather, he threatened the victim persistently via phone calls and managed to put fear in him to deter him from disclosing his ordeal,” the prosecution added.