Headmistress held for indecent assault of nursery pupils

Pages 16/17: Daily Graphic, May 7, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE headmistress of a nursery school at the Mallam Atta Market in Accra has been arrested for alleged indecent assault on pupils of the nursery.
The suspect, Cornelia Garbah, is currently on bail and is due to appear before court on May 10, 2010.
Four of her victims have so far been identified.
Cornelia has, however, denied any wrongdoing.
The Tesano Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Bossoh, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that a couple reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service on April 26, 2010 that Cornelia had been inserting her fingers into the vagina of their seven-year-old daughter.
He said as a part of the report issued by a medical officer after examining the victim, it was indicated that the victim had told the medical officer that Cornelia had been doing it to other girls.
According to Chief Supt Bossoh, the police went to the school to invite the headmistress for questioning and also to identify the other victims.
He said when the three other victims were identified, they all confirmed that Cornelia had been inserting her fingers into their private parts while they were on break.
He said the victims also showed the police the corner in the suspect’s office where she had been inserting her fingers into their private parts.
Chief Supt Bossoh said the victims alleged that Cornelia oftentimes sent anyone of them to buy either water or porridge for her during the break period.
Upon their return, he said, the suspect took them to the corner in her office to commit the offence, after which she would warn them not to tell anyone.
Chief Supt Bossoh said the victims claimed that each time they screamed for help, Cornelia shouted at them to keep quiet, saying that the victims claimed the act had been repeated several times.