DOVVSU records high wife battery and defilement cases in Western Region

The Western Regional Division of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), recorded 100 defilement and 255 wife battery cases, out of 997 crime cases, received from the public last year.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), at Sekondi, on Wednesday, the Regional Coordinator of the DOVVSU), Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Lawrence Gbele, attributed the rising cases of wife battery to situations where children were born out of wed lock.

He said when the mothers of such children approach the fathers for money, for the upkeep of their wards; it mostly results in assault of the females.

Other criminal cases recorded by the division last year included, 18 rape cases, 225 assaults, 18 stealing cases, one incest and 25 unlawful child removal, he said

The rest are 16 abductions, 50 offensive conducts, one attempted kidnapping, 29 threatening, 29 threats of death and 19 unlawful ejection cases, ASP Gbele added.

Mr Gbele said 112 of the cases were sent to court and 27 cases were referred to family tribunals, adding that, there were 21 convictions, while 136 cases had been closed.

The Regional DOVVSU Coordinator said, 12 cases were referred to the Department of Social Welfare whilst 705 cases were still under investigation.

Source: GNA