Electrician gets four years for pouring acid on woman

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced an electrician to four years’ imprisonment in hard labour for pouring acid on a food vendor, which caused her to suffer severe acid burns all over her body.

Benjamin Atobrah was, in addition, ordered to pay GH¢20,000.00 as a compensation to Melody Sworddol, the victim.

He pleaded guilty to causing harm and was convicted on his own plea.

Sentence was deferred in May, this year, by the Court to await a medical report on the condition of the victim, who was on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Burns Centre, while Atobrah remained in police custody.

Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ohene-Agyei told the Court, presided over by Mrs Marian Affoh, that the victim was a food vendor whilst convict was an electrician.

They both lived at La, a suburb of Accra, and had their work places close to each other.

On April 20, this year, at about 2000 hours, a misunderstanding ensued between Atobrah and one of his apprentices.

Being peeved by the situation, he took some acid from a car battery and attempted to pour it on his apprentice but he escaped.

Atobrah later said he overheard Melody gossiping about him and rather poured the acid on her.

Melody, who suffered various injuries, was rushed to the Hospital for treatment.

Atobrah was arrested and after investigations he was arraigned.

Source: GNA