The order came after defence counsel for nine other students
halted the issuance of bench warrant against the four saying they
would produce them at the next court sitting.The lawyers contended that the four were not at large as stated by the prosecution but were absent because they had not been informed to appear before the court.
Mr Thomas Auben, one of the lawyers, said the four students
appeared before the University of Ghana Disciplinary Enquiry and they
were ready to produce them in court. According to Mr Auben he was surprised that the prosecution was creating the impression that the four students were at large.
The four students are Alexander Aryee, Benedict Boamoah, Jesse
Boamah and Edward Tsito. When the case was called today, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kofi Blagodzi informed the court that the complainant, Amina Haruna, was indisposed.
DSP Blagodzi applied for a bench warrant for the arrest of the
four students who have not yet appeared before the court. He contended that the Police had written to the University to
assist them to trace the four students but have not been able to trace
them.
DSP Blagodzi said if the four were available the police would
vary their charge sheet and charge them officially.
Meanwhile the nine students who were present on Monday, have each
been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢9,000 after they pleaded not
guilty on May 6.
They are facing four counts of conspiracy, assault by
imprisonment, indecent assault and causing harm to Amina Haruna.
Amina was allegedly arrested by the students at one of the
University halls and stripped naked while others inserted their
fingers into her private part for allegedly stealing a laptop.
The nine students are Francis Wiredu Attah, Tornu Mark Dickson, Moris Awuregya, Nana Osei Asiamah, Gideon Agyei Ayirdaga, Aboyadana Amobila Gabriel, Afeatse Godfred, Evans Addai Boateng and Obed Banini.
The case of prosecution is that at about 2330 hours on March 30,
Amina was arrested at Mensah Sarbah Hall Annex B for allegedly
stealing a laptop and a mobile phone belonging to one of the students.
The students retrieved the stolen items from Amina and thereafter
locked her in a room until 0300 hours and subjected her to severe
beatings.
The prosecution said the students stripped her naked, inserted
their fingers into Amina’s private part until she started bleeding.
She was rescued by some security guards and handed over to the
Police who in turn rushed her to the Police Hospital where she was on
admission for four days.
According to prosecution, some of the students filmed the
molestation, distributed copies to some media houses and others posted
the incident on the internet.
Amina identified some of the students during an identification
parade and some were identified in the video footage and photographs.
They are to reappear on June 20.
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