Accra, Jan. 9, – An Accra High Court has fixed January 15, to
rule on a bail application of Rabih Haddad, the 39 year old businessman who has
been accused of raping his 19 year old domestic help at Airport Hills in Accra.
This was after the court presided
over by Mr Justice Justine Kofi Dorgu had heard the bail application arguments
filed Haddad’s lawyer and the state’s affidavit in opposition.
Mr Ralph Poku Adusei counsel for
Haddad argued that the charge preferred against his client was bailable and the
accused was ready to satisfy every condition set out by the court.
Mr Adusei said Haddad was sick
and if confined, would be in more danger and there are medical reports to prove
this.
Defence counsel said his client
was the sole bread winner of his family.
Mr Adamu Boateng, a state attorney
however opposed to the bail application pointing out to the court that accused
was foreign national who has no fixed place of abode and may leave the country
anytime.
The hearing was greeted with the
shedding of tears by Haddad’s wife soon after the matter was adjourned.
Haddad’s wife could not hide her
tears and wept uncontrollably in the court again.
On December 5, last year a
District Court in Accra remanded Haddad into Police custody on a charge of
rape.
The state has however filed an
affidavit in opposition to the bail application.
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, last year, the alleged victim was employed by the accused as a house
help and she was living at 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 were out of the premises.
Prosecution said on November 30,
that same year, in the afternoon Haddad lured the victim into one of the rooms
upstairs of the house and had sex with her whilst alone with the alleged
victim.
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.
Again on December 2, last year,
between 4:00pm and 5:00pm when Haddad’s wife and kids were out, Haddad
requested for coffee from the alleged victim.
She proceeded to the kitchen to
prepare the coffee when Haddad then 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.
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 then 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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