RAPED...After fried rice with concoction (NSEMPA, LEAD STORY)

By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.

A MAIZE dealer at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region who allegedly raped an 18-year-old student of the Techiman Senior High School after making her drowsy with fried rice laced with a concoction is in trouble with the law.
Seidu Nuhu, the maize dealer, had proposed love to the victim but she turned him down and the best option for him was to lace the food meant for the student with an intoxicant to enable him satisfy his sexual desire.
Seidu has appeared before the Sunyani High Court on a charge of rape.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and the court presided over by Mr Justice Ato Assan remanded him in prison custody to reappear on July 9, 2008.
Two others, wanted for abetment, Comfort Forkuo and Antwi Korsah, both students of the Techiman Senior High School, failed to appear in court.
The facts of the case as presented by Ms Angela Oboshie Torto, an Assistant State Attorney, said Seidu was a maize dealer at the Techiman maize market.
She said Seidu visited Antwi at school recently and later in the day, the two together with the victim and one Eric Peprah, also a student of the school, left the campus for town.
Ms Torto told the court that while in town, they stopped at “More Questions”, a drinking spot for some drinks, and later left there for Seidu’s house at Techiman Zongo to enable him to change his clothing.
The prosecutor said while in the house, the victim refused to enter Seidu’s room but her friends convinced her that nothing would happen to her.
Eric left them and did not return to the house again while the other students including the victim, watched a movie in Seidu’s room.
While in the room, the victim and Comfort complained of hunger and requested for food so Seidu and Korsah went to town to get some fried rice for them.
Ms Torto stated that Seidu, who was holding the food, laced it with a drug and gave it to the victim.
Before the food was bought for the two girls, Seidu had proposed love to the victim, but she turned him down.
The prosecutor indicated that, when the victim started eating the food, she complained that it tasted bitter but she never suspected any foul play. The victim then felt drowsy and fell asleep on the carpet in the room.
Ms Torto added that Comfort rushed out to inform Seidu and Korsah about the state of the victim and they decided to take her back to the school.
They went to the roadside to look for a taxi to take them to the school but it started raining so they were compelled to return to the room.
While in the room, Comfort and Korsah slept on a mattress while the victim slept on the carpet.
Later, Seidu told them that he was going to sleep with a brother in a different house but surprisingly, he was found at dawn sleeping next to the victim on the floor.
Ms Torto continued that Seidu took advantage of the victim’s helpless condition and raped her.
Early the following morning, Comfort and Korsah took the victim to the school while she had still not regained consciousness.
The prosecutor said the school authorities were informed of the victim’s situation and upon their personal enquiries, Seidu was arrested, while Comfort and Korsah were also picked up later.
After police investigations, Seidu was charged with the offence.