A 55-year-old trader, Comfort Aboagye-Mensah and her son, Kwesi Gyan, a 21-year-old unemployed, were on Friday granted a total bail of GH¢10,500.00 for allegedly assaulting and raping one Maame Esi, a 19 year-old woman at Breman-Baako, respectively.

They both pleaded not guilty, and would re-appear on January 4, 2008.

Prosecuting, Principal State Attorney, Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu told the court presided over by Mr Richard Asiedu-Badu that on June 22 this year, at about 1400 hours, the victim went to her farm to pick some cocoyam leaves (kontomire).

He said on her way home, she passed through Aboagye-Mensah's farm, where Gyan and a friend, now at large spotted her and ordered her to stop, which she obliged.

He alleged that the two friends, asked her to put down the sack containing the kontomire leaves. They after searching the bag accused her of stealing the leaves from Gyans mother's (Aboagye-Mensah's) farm.

Mr Wiredu said the victim tried to prove her innocence, but they would not listen, and pushed her to the ground and sexually abused her in turns.

After the act they took the victim to Gyan's mother who was then working at the other side of the farm and told her that the victim had stolen some kontomire from her farm.

He said the mother without listening to the victim’s side of the story, started beating her up after which she took the kontomire from her.

The victim went home crying and reported the matter to the Chief of the village, who advised her to report to the police.

Source: GNA