Man, 20 kidnaps child’s mum

Saturday, March 14, 2009 (Page 27 - MIRROR)

A 20-year-old unemployed who kidnapped the mother of his child for a $2,000 ransom before her release was last Tuesday found guilty and convicted by the Accra Circuit Court.
Eric Launcelot Kugblenu, who refused to accept responsibility for the upkeep of the child was said to have threatened to kill his captive if her parents did not pay the ransom.
He was bonded to a sum of 100 penalty units to be of good behaviour for five years or in default face eight years prison term by the court, presided over by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills.
Each penalty unit is GH¢12.00.
Kugblenu was convicted on his own plea of guilt. He broke down in tears and pleaded with the victim’s father to forgive him his wrongdoing.
His father also pleaded with the court for mercy towards his son.
A friend of the court, Mr Adjei Lartey, a lawyer, described the accused person’s action as unfortunate and reminded the court that the convict had a child with his victim.
He, therefore, prayed the court to give Launcelot the opportunity to change for the better.
Launcelot had earlier pleaded not guilty but nevertheless apologised to the victim’s father for forgiveness.
He said “I am very sorry. I am not guilty. I did not do it,” but his father prompted him to plead guilty to which he did.
According to the prosecution, in December, 2008 he succeeded in collecting GH¢300 from his captive's parents before releasing her but the money has since been retrieved by the police.
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, a lawyer reported the matter to the police leading to the subsequent arrest of Kugblenu.
Kugblenu was put before an Accra circuit court on February 18, 2009, charged with one count of kidnapping.
He pleaded not guilty and the court and was subsequently remanded by the court.
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.