Accra, Dec. 19, - Rabih Haddad,
the 39 year old businessman who has been accused of raping his 19 year old
domestic help has appeal to an Accra High Court for bail.
On December 5, this year a
District Court in Accra remanded into Police custody on a charge of rape.
The state has however filed an
affidavit in opposition to the bail application.
At the High Court, Mr Justice
Justine Kofi Dorgu, the trial judge said he needed to take a look at the
affidavit in opposition.
According to him, he just saw the
affidavit in opposition this morning.
“I would like to take a look at
the entire application on its merit,” The trial judge said.
Mr Ralph Poku Adusei who
represented the Haddad said they were before the court to seek bail because
“”we have crisis on our hands.”’
Mr Adusei said since the
commencement of the matter his client had been on admission at the Ridge
Hospital.
He said Haddad’s admission at the
hospital attest to the fact that he was unwell.
Mr Adusei was unhappy over how
his client has been victimised by being called “Lebanese rapist” and the fact
that the prosecution did not know why they arrested his client.
He said his client has filed an
alibi.
The trial judge told defence
counsel to avoid drawing conclusions on the matter adding when the alibi and
the DNA test were concluded, they could be of benefit for his client.
He said at the moment the
hospital was the best for Haddad.
Ms Rebecca Smith, an Attorney
from the Attorney General Office said the matter was under investigations hence,
have filed their affidavit in opposition to the bail application.
The Court then adjourned the
matter to January 8, 2018.
The facts as narrated by the
Prosecution at the district Court was that the victim is a 19 year old Togolese
who was engaged as a domestic house help in the house of Haddad.
Haddad is a Lebanese resident at
Airport Hills, Accra.
Prosecution said in the month of
November, this year, the alleged victim was employed by the accused as a house
help and she was in the boys quarter of the house with another house help.
The prosecution said ever since
the alleged victim moved to the house the accused had persistently harassed her
and insisted on having sexual intercourse with her anytime other occupants of
the house including Haddad’s wife goes
out of the premises.
Prosecution said on November 30,
this year, in the afternoon Haddad lured the victim into one of the rooms
upstairs of the house and had sex with her when the other occupants of the
house were not in.
Prosecution said the victim
reported the incident to a co-worker in the house but both kept the incident to
themselves for the fear of losing their jobs.
On December 2, this year, between
4:00pm to 5:00pm when Haddad’s wife and kids had gone out, Haddad requested for
coffee from the alleged victim.
She then proceeded to the kitchen
to prepare the coffee when Haddad approached her and demanded sex from her.
Prosecution said the victim
resisted and this infuriated Haddad who slapped her on the face and held her
neck and dragged her into the master bedroom.
According to prosecution Haddad
stripped her naked and had sex with her on the bed.
Prosecution said after the act
the accused warned her not inform anyone and then took his bath and left the
house in his car.
Prosecution said victim for the
second time reported her ordeal to a co-worker who in turn passed the
information to a Police officer who was on duty nearby.
The matter was therefore reported
to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Airport upon which
Haddad was arrested.
Prosecution said the victim was
issued with a medical report form to seek treatment while DNA test was to be
conducted to confirm or otherwise the allegation of rape.
Haddad has however denied the
offence, the prosecution said.
GNA
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