Woman, 38, jailed for human trafficking

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 (Page 31)

THE Accra Circuit Court last Monday sentenced a Nigerian to eight years’ imprisonment after it found her guilty of trafficking a 14-year-old Togolese.
Princess Thomas Dupe, a 38-year-old trader, was found guilty after the prosecution led evidence to prove that she had transported the victim (name withheld) from Badu, a town in the Republic of Togo, to Accra, en route to Burkina Faso, in July 2008 for the purpose of putting her under domestic servitude.
The convict, who stayed in the same area with the victim, induced and transported the victim to Accra, en route to Burkina Faso, unknown to the victim’s parents.
Princess is the first person to be convicted after the Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service was established in March 2008.
Four witnesses, including herself, were called to testify in the trial which lasted less than three months.
Reading her judgement, the trial judge, Mrs Elizabeth Ankumah, held that the prosecution had established Princess’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the court, the convict’s defence that she had brought the victim to Ghana to enable the victim to reconcile with her parents was untenable.
The court also ordered that the victim, who is currently in a shelter at Osu, should be sent back to her parents in Togo.
Princess, who wore a pair of blue jeans, a gold coloured shirt and a scarf, walked out of the courtroom angry. She was escorted by a police officer.
She disagreed with the investigator, Detective Inspector Joseph Mannoh, when he asked her to wait in the court cells while the necessary documents were prepared before she could be transported to begin her prison sentence.
Wielding her bags, in apparent preparation to begin her prison sentence, Princess said, “I am not going to that cell. I want to go straight to Nsawam.”
That notwithstanding, she was put in cells, while Inspector Mannoh waited for the trial judge to recess to enable her to sign the necessary court documents in order for prison officials to admit the convict.
In the course of the trial, Princess pleaded not guilty to one count of human trafficking.
The facts of the case were that in July 2008 the convict induced the victim and transported her to Accra.
On reaching the STC Yard at Kaneshie, Princess ran out of money and decided to let the victim work with anyone who was interested in her for a fee.
Princess later had information that the complainant needed a maid. She, therefore, approached her and introduced herself as the victim’s elder sister.
Princess then informed the complainant that she needed money to enable her to travel with the victim to Burkina Faso and for that matter she would allow the complainant to employ the victim for a fee of GH¢15 per month while she went back to Togo to look for extra money.
The complainant accepted the offer but the victim told her during Princess’ absence that she (victim) was not related to Princess.
The victim went on to state that she had been induced by Princess and brought to Accra without the knowledge of her parents.
Princess returned to Accra on September 17, 2008, went to the complainant to take her two-month fee of GH¢30 and made arrangements to transport the victim to Burkina Faso.
Subsequently, the complainant alerted the police, based on the information she had gathered from the victim.