St Joseph hospital sexual harassment case: Nurse, husband convicted

The Koforidua Circuit Court ‘A’ has convicted a nurse of St. Joseph Hospital, Koforidua and her husband to a total fine of GH¢1,960 in default serve 10 months prison sentence each.

The third accomplice was also fined GH¢480 in default serve three months imprisonment.

The convicts are Terry Komla Kakuyi, a businessman, his wife, Sheila Owari, a nurse with St. Joseph Hospital who was on study leave at KNUST. The third convict, Felix Nelson Antwi Darkwa, a farmer and friend to the couple.

They were convicted for sexually entrapping the former Director of the St. Joseph Hospital, Rev. Brother George Castro Yankey.

Background

In May 2015, the nurse, Sheila Owari, alleged that, Rev. Brother George Castro Yankey as the Director of the St. Joseph Hospital demanded sex from her before he facilitates her promotion. The unending alleged sexual pestering from Rev. Brother Castro Yankey compelled her to inform her husband, Terry Komla Kakuyi.

According to the facts, tabled before the court by the prosecution, the couple hatched a hidden agenda against Rev. Brother Castro Yankey to entrap him.

On June 5, 2015, whilst Rev. Brother Castro Yankey was about leaving Koforidua to renew his passport in Accra, the prosecution said, Sheila Owari called him and pleaded that he passed by her home to deliver her share of food items given by the Hospital.

Sheila Owari according to the Prosecutor, Chief Superintendent Kofi Blagodzi, further requested Rev. Brother Castro Yankey to buy her a bottle of wine for her lecturer.

According to Rev. Brother Castro Yankey, per the facts presented to the court by the prosecutor, when he got to the house of Sheila Owari at Okorase on the direction, Sheila Owari, ushered him into the hall and offered him a seat and before he could sit, she attempted to unbutton his shirt which he resisted.

Suddenly, her husband and his friend appeared with a nylon whip and huge dog, accusing Rev. Brother Castro Yankey of attempting to have an affair with his wife, accosted and stripped him half-naked, ordered him to kneel down whilst filming and in the process, punched him in the face and broke his lenses valued GH¢400 and seized his passport, the prosecutor told the court.

The couple, the prosecutor further noted demanded $100,000 from Rev. Brother Castro Yankey to resolve the incident amicably and not to make the video go viral on social media.

On November 19, 2015, the husband of Sheila Owari stormed the St. Joseph Hospital with a Bailiff to serve a writ of summons on Rev. Brother Castro Yankey amidst insults which created an unpleasant scene in the presence of Staff and clients.

This compelled Rev. Brother Castro Yankey to report the matter to the Police leading to the arrest three convicts.

Sheila Owari’s husband was charged with conspiracy to commit assault, assault, causing unlawful damage, stealing and offensive conduct. Whilst, Sheila Owari was charged with conspiracy to commit assault, abetment of crime and stealing.

The third convict was also charged with conspiracy to commit assault and abetment of crime to and stealing.

Trial

During the trial of the case, Sheila Owari narrated that Rev. Brother Castro Yankey made several sexual advancements towards her at his office before he could approve her promotion. She also showed as evidence what she said were sexually explicit WhatsApp messages sent to her by the latter.

Touching on the incident that happened at her house, she said Rev. Brother Castro Yankey, started removing his dress in readiness to make love to her when he came to her house but upon seeing her husband appear he tried to wear it back.

However, in his evidence, Rev. Brother Castro Yankey denied ever harassing Sheila Owari, explaining that he only went to her house to deliver Christmas hamper and was assaulted and videoed in his boxer shorts.

Judgment

After almost two years of trial, the Presiding Judge, Her Honour Janet Animah Marfo found the convicts guilty of the criminal charges leveled against them and sentenced them accordingly.

Meanwhile, there is a civil suit against Rev. Brother Castro Yankey by Sheila Owari’s husband for allegedly sexually harassing his wife and demanding sex for her promotion.

Source: starrfmonline