Suspected Lebanese rapist case forwarded to A-G

Police prosecutors have forwarded the case of Rabih Haddad, the 39-year-old Lebanese alleged to have raped his 19-year-old house help, to the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) Department for advice.

The prosecutor, Inspector George Akomea, made this known to the Accra Central District Court, presided over by Ms Gloria Laryea on Wednesday.

The presiding magistrate has, therefore, directed the police to make regular checks at the A-G’s Department to ensure that the advice is released within the shortest possible time.

Hearing continues on March 29, 2018.

Haddad has been provisionally charged with rape. The advice will determine whether state attorneys will indict him or not.

In the event that he is indicted, committal proceedings are expected to commence at the court, after which the court will decide to, whether or not, commit him to stand trial at the High Court.

Bail

Haddad was on January 15, 2018 admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties  by the Accra High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Kofi Dorgu, following a bail application filed by his lawyers.

As part of the bail conditions, Haddad was ordered by the court to submit his passport to the court registry and also seek permission from the court if he wanted to travel outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Alleged incident

Per the facts of the case, the 19-year-old house help was employed by Rabih and his wife in November 2017.

Ever since the house help moved into the house, the prosecution said, Rabih had been pestering her for sex.

According to the prosecution, on November 30, 2017, Rabih lured the house help into one of the bedrooms upstairs and “forcibly had sexual intercourse with her when his wife and other occupants of the house had gone out”.

It explained that on December 2, 2017, Rabih requested the house help to prepare coffee for him.

“When she went to the kitchen to prepare the coffee, Rabih went to her and demanded to have sexual intercourse with her. She resisted and that infuriated Rabih, who slapped her and hit her on the neck.

“He then dragged her into the master bedroom, stripped her naked and forcibly had sex with her on the bed,” it said.

The prosecution added that the house help reported her ordeal to a co-worker, who also gave the information to the police.

The matter, it said, was subsequently reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), leading to Rabih’s arrest.