A young teacher at the CJ Complex Montessori School at Kotobabi in Accra, has by his own actions, landed in the tangles of the law. The teacher, Bright Aweh, is before an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lordina Datsa-Mensah, for allegedly defiling an eight-year old girl � a former pupil of his class � in the said school.
According to the facts of the case, the victim, a class two pupil and the only girl in a class of four, confided in her mother after she had been questioned on whether she had been defiled by her teacher who she prefers to call �Uncle Bright� five times. She explained that four times, the act took place in the classroom and the other one, in her house when the teacher had come to take her through a paid supplementary tuition.
The victim explained that since she was the only girl in the class of four, the teacher took his time and made sure everything he taught was well understood by her. Anytime she found difficulties in understanding any subject or topic, he made her sit on his laps behind the class (where the teacher�s table and chair are).
She continued, �he would ask me to pick up his pen which he had dropped, and after I pick it up, removes my panty and makes me sit on his laps.� The victim recalled that anytime �Uncle Bright makes me sit on his laps; I feel pains between my thighs.�
Although the accused teacher pleaded not guilty to the charge, the mother of the victim told the court that on 15 February, she realised that her child�s style of walking had altered. She however, did not consider it as any pressing issue since she thought the girl was just playing.
Her mother, who visited her that day, told her she suspected someone had �touched� the girl and so took her to the hospital. She then called the victim and asked her who had inserted his finger into her vagina. The victim told her mother there was nothing wrong with her and until a series of questioning and promises of buying her a new dress did the victim confide to her mother that it was her teacher.
The mother said sine she noticed her daughter�s academic performance had dropped, she withdrew her from CJ School and enrolled her into a different school. The mother said she was surprised her daughter told her it was not her teacher at her new school rather �Uncle Bright.�
She went to the school to report to the proprietress and later to the Kotobabi Police Station. The doctor�s report she received after sending the victim to the hospital as requested by the police confirmed, �there is evidence of instrumental penetration into vagina.�
The mother narrated that for about eight months, the girl incessantly complained of stomachache and so had to be taking her to the hospital frequently. She also recalled the girl�s refusal to go to school (CJ) and had to be compelled to go.
The mother again said that the girl because of the incident, was unable to pass stool. The accused, who was apprehended by the police on 17 February, this year, has since been in police detention. The judge, Justice Lordina Datsa-Mensah however, refused to grant the accused bail and adjourned the case to 17 March 2010.
<<Print>>