The Circuit Court in Accra yesterday, Thursday, October 22, 2009 discharged the Proprietor of the Great Lamptey Mills Institute, Mr Enoch Nii Lamptey Mills, who had been charged with compulsory marriage. Mr Mills, alias Mr Tee, allegedly impregnated one of his former students and forced her to marry him at age 16 but he denied any wrongdoing.
He was discharged alongside two other accused persons, namely, Georgina Sabah, the victim’s mother, and Evelyn Engmann, the victim’s grandmother, who were charged with abetment.
The court arrived at that decision after the victim’s father/complainant in the case, Mr Odartey Lamptey, had announced to the court that he had decided to withdraw his complaint against Mr Mills and others following a resolution of the matter by parties in the case.
The presiding judge, Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa, accordingly discharged the accused persons after she had held deliberations with the victim in her chambers, in the presence of the prosecutor, the complainant and the defence counsel.
According to the trial judge, the charge levelled against Mr Mills was a misdemeanor, for which the law allowed out-of-court settlement. She said she also took into account the fact that the complainant had withdrawn the case against the three, as well as the interest of the child born out of the relationship.
The court emphasised that a criminal matter could not go on without a complainant and further pointed out that the prosecution had not objected to the withdrawal of the matter from the court.
She further stated that the victim had also told her (judge), in the presence of the prosecutor and the defence lawyer, that she consented to an amicable resolution of the matter. The court concluded that considering the above reasons, it was its duty to discharge the accused persons.
Mr. Mills, who was, as usual, clad in an all white apparel, walked out of the courtroom a free man in the company of his sympathizers. On Monday, Mr Mills and the two others had been granted self recognizance bail by the court.
Counsel for Mr. Mills, Mr Bannerman Williams, had told the court that the parties in the matter had sought an out-of-court settlement, explaining that the offence was a misdemeanor and the family had taken into account the fact that there was a child between Mr Mills and the victim. Counsel had said the family agreed that the welfare of the child would be better protected and promoted if the matter was resolved out of court.
The court had, accordingly, adjourned the matter to yesterday, October 22, 2009 to enable the complainant to respond appropriately.
