Sodomy teacher pleads guilty to all charges

The Social Studies teacher of Kulpi Junior High School standing trial for allegedly sodomizing some 18 pupils has pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Natomah Otabel was sent to Tamale Circuit Court after he was discharged by the Salaga Magistrate Court on Wednesday, October 13.

He was immediately rearrested for the trial in Tamale.

The Presiding Judge remanded him into police custody to reappear on Thursday, October 21 for judgement.

Natomah Otabel was arrested on Monday, September 27 after some relatives of victims reported the matter to the Salaga police.

He was immediately arrested and arraigned before court.

But efforts to get the victims to undergo tests proved difficult after the Salaga Government Hospital said it did not have the necessary equipment.

They were all, therefore, sent to the Tamale Teaching Hospital with the aid of the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Hajia Zuweira Ibrhaima, and Developing Kids Ghana, a non-profit organization, for the tests.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on Monday, October 11 condemned the incident and commended the pupils for coming out without fear.

“We commend the boldness of all affected boys in reporting the alleged abuse,” it said in a statement.

“It is however good to note that the perpetrator has been charged and remanded for defiling and having unnatural carnal knowledge of the pupils.”