An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour Abena Oppong Adjin- Doku, has sentenced one Monica Ogechi Amadi, a trader, to a concurrent five- year prison term, on a count of conspiracy to commit crime and four counts of human trafficking.
This was after the convict, who is the first Accused in the case, pleaded guilty to all the charges levelled against her and prayed the court to forgive her.
The second Accused, Esther Obed Otumi, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and human trafficking.
The facts as read by the Prosecutor, Superintendent Philip  Peter Andoh, indicated that the first Accused person, aged 41 and the second Accused person, aged 37, with the help of one Felicia, a resident of Nigeria, recruited five girls between the ages of 17 and 22 years, from different parts of Nigeria under the pretext of providing them jobs as shop attendants in Côte d’Ivoire, but with intent and purpose to exploit them through prostitution.
According to the Prosecutor, the victims were Blessing
Yameh, 22 years, Mercy Edison, 17 years, Queen Eraze, 18 years, Vivian Michael, 18 years, and another person who has still not been found.
Superintendent Andoh said the Victims were transported by the first Accused to Accra and then to the Elubo Boarder post for the purpose of sending them to Yakese in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Prosecutor narrated that on the 27th May, 2018, at the Elubo Boarder post, the first Accused person was arrested by Immigration officials when she attempted crossing the boarder with Blessing Yameh, after Mercy Edison, Queen Eraze and Vivian Michael had already crossed the boarder to Côte d’Ivoire.
“Investigations revealed that Mercy Edison, Queen Eraze, Vivian Michael and another lady who is not known were received by the second Accused at the Ivorian side of the boarder”, the Prosecutor added.
Superintendent Andoh said that Mercy Edison, Queen Eraze and Vivian Michael who were taken to Côte d’Ivoire, were forced into prostitution and amounts of CFA 2000, CFA 6000 and CFA 150,000 respectively, being proceeds of their prostitution, were taken from the victims by the second Accused on the grounds that they were each indebted to her to the tune of CFA 2,000,000 which they had to pay through prostitution.
The second Accused has been remanded in police custody and is to re appear before the cour on 17th July, 2018.
Source: GhanaJustice/F.Kyerematen
