In a courtroom scene that gripped the local community, the 35-year-old alleged paedophile, Ahmed Rashid, appeared before the Wa Circuit Court today (Monday, August 14, 2023) and pleaded not guilty to a total of 15 counts of defilement and 5 counts of attempted defilement, all brought against him by the state prosecutors.
This marks the second appearance of the accused in court, following his capture a few days earlier after attempting to flee the region when his cover was exposed.
Rashid, a married man with two wives and a Master of Ceremonies (MC) in the area, was initially faced with 12 counts of defilement.
However, the state prosecutors, led by Chief State Attorney Saeed Abdul-Shakuur, decided to alter the charges, mounting a total of 15 defilement charges and 5 attempted cases of defilement.
In the dramatic court session, Rashid, standing before the trial Judge Jonathan Avogo, pleaded not guilty to all the charges that were read aloud in the open court.
The court granted the prosecutors’ request for a daily trial of the case, reflecting the gravity of the allegations and the urgency of the proceedings.
In light of the severity of the charges and the potential risk to society, the suspect has been remanded in Police custody until the final determination of the case.
Source: RainbowFm
