Mother burns son for losing pen

A 25-year-old cook in Ho, Jemima Kwaku, who allegedly burnt her 11-year-old son on the belly, back, and other parts of his body with a heated pressing iron as punishment for losing his pen at school, is standing trial at the Ho Circuit Court.

The court, presided over by Abdul O. Hakeem, was told that the accused locked the helpless child in a bedroom before carrying out the brutal act at Ho Barracks–New Town.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Noah Amuzu, prosecuting, said the incident occurred on July 15 this year.

The accused, who appeared before the court on July 21, pleaded not guilty to causing harm.

According to the prosecution, the accused became enraged when she discovered her son no longer had the pen she had bought for him. The boy explained that a classmate had borrowed it but forgot to return it, adding that he would collect it the next day.

Unsatisfied with the explanation, the accused ordered the boy into the bedroom. She then plugged in a pressing iron and, when it became hot, pressed it onto the boy’s belly, chest, lips, shoulders, backside, and other parts of his body.

The court heard that the accused later warned the boy not to tell anyone about the incident.

However, when the boy went to school on July 18, his class teacher noticed he was unusually quiet and withdrawn. On being questioned, he mustered the courage to narrate his ordeal. The teacher informed the headmaster, who reported the matter to the police.

The accused was arrested, and the boy was taken to the hospital for treatment. In her caution statement, the accused admitted to the offence.

The court was further told that the boy is now in the care of social workers. The accused has been remanded into prison custody until August 19

It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred in Ho in May last year, when a 62-year-old woman, Margaret Gafa, was arrested and prosecuted for burning her nine-year-old niece for failing to sell all the kebabs she had given her before school. That child was also taken into social care.