THE REPUBLIC V SARFOWAAH (AR/AKP/CC/D3/01/2025) [2024] GHADC 536 (28 October 2024)

BEFORE HER HONOUR NANA ADWOA SERWAA DUA-ADONTENG JUDGE SITTING AT AKROPONG CIRCUIT COURT ON 28TH OCTOBER, 2024. SUIT NO:AR/AKP/CC/ D3/01/2025 THE REPUBLIC VERSUS ABIGAIL SARFOWAAH FINAL JUDGEMENT Accused Person (Self represented) Chief Inspector Ruth Gborson representing Republic – Present - Present Abigail Sarfowaa, aged 29, sales person, for that you on 12th October, 2024 at about 7:00pm at Abuakwa Dadease in the Ashanti Circuit and within the jurisdiction of this court, you coursed harm to your son Elorm Sarfo aged 8 years with a Knife. PLEA The court explained to the Accused what the plea of Guilty, Not Guilty and Guilty with explanation were and the effect of each plea. Accused pleaded Guilty Simpliciter on the offence of causing harm to Elorm Sarfo. FACT Complainant Joyce Alimeya is a seamstress. The victim Elorm Sarfo aged 8 is a class two pupil of Abuakwa R/C. The accused Abigail Sarfowaah works as a sales person at Lawson herbal and a mother to the victim. The complainant is a step mother to the accused person, all reside in the same house at Abuakwa old Dadease. On 12th October 2024, at about 7:00pm, a co-tenant served the accused person Fufu and she placed same in her room. The victim who was hungry went to the room, drank the soup and ate the meat without the accused person’s consent. The accused person after noticing the act called the victim into the room and started beating him with aluminum spatula. In the course, she took a knife and slashed the head of the victim three times on different sport inflicting deep wounds in the head. Blood fled the victim profusely and he rum from the room to the complainant. Complainant upon noticing how serious the victim was injured in his head rushed him to the Abuakwa polyclinic where he was admitted for treatment. The complainant reported the matter to the Abuakwa DOVVSU office and police medical forms was issued to her for medical officer’s endorsement. Police visited the victim at the Abuakwa polyclinic and met him on admission receiving treatment. On 13th October, 2024 the accused was arrested and, in her investigation, cautioned statement to police, she admitted the offence but stated that, she used wire to hit the victim but not a knife. Police visited the scene of crime with both parties, and the victim identifies the knife and the Aluminum spatula to the police and same were retrieved and kept as an exhibit. After investigation, she was charged with the offence and brought before this honorable court. CONVICTION ON OWN PLEA (COP) By pleading Guilty Simpliciter to the offence of causing Harm to his biological son Elorm 8 years, accused person is convicted on her own plea. PRIOR CONVICTION Accused person is not known to Law. PLEA OF MITIGATION My lady, I am really sorry for what I have done. I will not repeat it. My son has learnt the habit of stealing and lying and I got frustrated with him and used a wire to beat him. I am currently unemployed and just got a job at Lawson company. He is learning the bad habit from school and I wanted to correct him. My son lives with my mother because I can’t not take care of him since I don’t have a job. SENTENCE By court: accused person is sentenced to sign a bond of good behavior for 5 years. She may visit the child every Saturday and Sunday within the hours of 9:00am -5pm. Temporal custody to the uncle. H/H. NANA ADWOA SERWAA DUA-ADONTENG (CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE)