The High Court in Kumasi has granted bail to an interdicted police officer and a final year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), standing trial for allegedly gang-raping a first-year student.
The two have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢80,000 each with two sureties; a relative and a government worker not earning less than a net salary of GH¢1,000 a month.
Accused persons Lance Corporal Frank Adu Poku and Joel Osei Owusu were earlier remanded after appearing before the Asokore Mampong District Court in July.
Since the Asokore Mampong District Court lacks jurisdiction in granting bail on the matter, the lawyers for the two accused persons applied for bail at the High Court, which was subsequently granted.
The substantive matter, which is being heard at the Asokore Mampong District Court, has been adjourned to 19 September 2022.
It would be recalled that the duo were recently in the news for allegedly gang-raping a first-year female student of the KNUST in a hostel in Kumasi.
On 19 July 2020, the second accused lured the victim, who sells female clothing online, to his hostel under the pretence of supplying her with clothes that would make her more profits.
Upon reaching his room, he forced her to undress and had unprotected sexual intercourse with her.
Afterwards, he brought in his accomplice, Lance Corporal Adu Poku, armed with a pistol, to also forcibly have sexual intercourse with the victim.
The two suspects were said to have also recorded the indecent act on a mobile phone for reasons best known to themselves.
The traumatized victim later reported the issue to the authorities of KNUST, who decided to report it to the police on 21 July 2022.
The suspects were charged with two counts – conspiracy to commit rape and rape.