Unemployed on kidnap charge

Friday, February 20, 2009 (Page 14)

A 20-year-old unemployed is in the grips of the law for kidnapping a teenager for a $2,000 ransom before her release.
Erick Launcelot Kugblenu, is alleged to have threatened to kill his captive if her parents did not pay the ransom.
In December, 2008 he succeeded in colleting GH¢300 from his captive's parents before releasing her.
Not satisfied with his earlier action, he again kidnapped the victim on January 15, 2009 and called the girl's father on January 19, 2009 demanding $2,000 before he released her.
The victim's father reported the matter to the police leading to the subsequent arrest of Kugblenu.
Kugblenu was put before an Accra circuit court on Wednesday, charged with one count of kidnapping.
He pleaded not guilty and the court, presided over by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills remanded him to reappear on March 4, 2009.
Prosecuting, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr George Abavelim, told the court that the accused person and the victim had attended the same secondary school and completed in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
According to the prosecution, the two had an affair that resulted in the girl getting pregnant.
The accused person, however, refused to accept responsibility for the pregnancy.
On December 12, 2008 the accused person lured the girl to his house and unlawfully detained her.
He later called the girl's father to inform him that the girl had been kidnapped and would only be released if he paid the GH¢300 to which the victim's father obliged.