A 38-year-old scrap dealer, Haruna Ishaq, has been arraigned before the Akyem Swedru Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old student and infecting her with HIV. Ishaq pleaded not guilty to charges of abduction, defilement, and willful transmission of HIV. He was granted bail of GH¢60,000 with three sureties to be justified and is expected to reappear in court on October 23, 2025, for trial.
The court had remanded Ishaq in police custody twice before granting bail on health grounds, citing his need for medical attention. According to the prosecution, the complainant, the victim’s mother, lives with her daughter at Oda New Lorry Park and trades in iced kenkey and sobolo, while the accused resides at the Oda CMB area.
On April 26, 2025, the complainant sent the victim to sell drinks, but she failed to return home for three days. After an intensive search by the girl’s friends, the accused released the victim. The complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service at Oda.
During interrogation, the victim disclosed that the accused had sexual intercourse with her during the three days she was held. Ishaq was subsequently arrested and, in his caution statement, admitted to being in a romantic relationship with the girl and confessed to abduction and defilement.
A medical examination conducted at the Oda Government Hospital confirmed that the victim had been defiled and infected with HIV. Despite his earlier admission in the caution statement, Ishaq pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the court.
