THE CENTRAL Regional HIPC Project Manager, Mr. Abeiku Bentil Enchil, was on Tuesday put before the Cape Coast Circuit Court for raping a 28-year-old hairdresser, Millicent Acquah at Nkanfoa, a suburb of Cape Coast in the Central Region. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Augustine Amoono said on January 1, 2007, the accused person, Abeiku, bought a bottle of Herb Afrik drink from the complainant’s mother, who had a drinking spot at Nkanfoa. The Millicent’s mother asked her to accompany the accused to collect the bottle. The accused person allegedly took advantage of this situation and offered Millicent four bottles of Guinness stout, which intoxicated her. He then dragged her into his bedroom and forcibly had sex with her. When Millicent became a little relieved and wanted to leave, Abeiku locked the door, but opened it after a persistent plea. While leaving however, the victim allegedly took with her, the accused person’s mobile phone. The victim eventually reported the case to the police and Abeiku was subsequently arrested. After thorough investigations, he was put before court.He has however pleaded not guilty. The Presiding Judge, Justice Berexford Acquah indicated that normally, rape suspects were not granted bail under the law until the case was finally determined. However, taking into consideration the suspect’s lawyer’s arguments, he had no option but to grant the suspect bail. He indicated that the accused person’s lawyer had argued that his client was set up, because it was not normal practice for an operator of a drinking bar to ask someone else to send a customer’s drinks home. The Judge, who believed there was fertile ground for a consented affair between the two, supported the accused person’s lawyer. He agreed further that if this was the case, then his client was set up. Touching on the second point, Justice Acquah maintained that normally a rape victim became so distressed that she would not be in the state of mind to accept any gift from the suspect, let alone take away his property. He subsequently granted Abeiku a ¢60million bail with two justifiable sureties. Meanwhile, the judge has referred the case to the Attorney-General’s Department for study and advice. The case has however been adjourned to February 7, 2007, for determination. Daily GUide