A 62-year-old illegal miner in Prestea, Western Region, was convicted by the Tarkwa Circuit Court to 20 years in prison and hard labor for dousing his 35-year-old ex-girlfriend, Victoria Salamatu Safia, with a substance believed to be acid.
John Tandoh, also known as Kojo Egyaguma, was found guilty of inflicting harm. On his first appearance before Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge, he entered a guilty plea.
Tandoh kept his head down until Mrs. Manu finished her sentence, at which point a policeman led him out of the courthouse.
According to documents from the Tarkwa Local Prison, Tandoh was given a 16-year sentence in 2012 for a similar act. However, he served eight years and was released on amnesty in June 2020.
Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Juliana Essel-Dadzie stated that Tandoh and the victim were coworkers in an illicit mining site in the Prestea neighborhood for a year.
According to her, Victoria accepted the convict's proposal of love while they were working, and the two have been living together ever since.
Months later, the victim saw that Tandoh no longer treated her with the same respect and would argue with her without cause. Based on her own advice, she ended the relationship.
At approximately 0700 hours on October 20, 2023, the two proceeded to the regular mining site to look for gold. According to the prosecutor, a misunderstanding occurred between them as they were going about their separate tasks, and Tandoh fled for town.
After a short while, Tandoh returned to the scene with a bowl wrapped in a plastic bag, which the victim mistook for food, Superintendent Essel-Dadzie told the court.
According to the prosecution, the prisoner approached the victim, assaulted her, and sprayed her face, head, and other body parts with what appeared to be acid.
As the victim cried out in agony for help due to serious burns, a witness who was working close by arrived at the scene and made an effort to capture Tandoh. But then he grabbed a kitchen knife, threatened to stab him, and ran away.
Victoria was taken to the Prestea Government hospital immediately, according to Superintendent Essel-Dadzie, and is still undergoing treatment there after being admitted.
The prosecutor stated that Tandoh was taken into custody from his hiding place and turned over to the Prestea police that same day at approximately 1430 hours.
