Mother burns son for stealing GH¢5.10

A mother has been arrested for allegedly using a heated electric iron to inflict severe burns on her 10-year-old boy for stealing GH¢5.10 belonging to his schoolmate.

The suspect, Veronica Ocran, a petty trader, has been charged by the Takoradi Central Police with causing harm under the Section 69 of Act 29/60.

The mother was said to have  received information that her son had allegedly stolen money from his mate in school.

Instead of questioning the child to establish the veracity or otherwise of the report when he returned home last Friday, the woman chose to punish him using the heated electric iron to burn his body at 4 a.m. on Saturday.

Dawn encounter

According to the Takoradi District Commander, Superintendent of Police, Mr Peter Ofori Donkor, at 4 a.m., Ms Ocran woke her son up and gently asked about the alleged theft.

Mr Donkor said the son denied the allegation, but not satisfied with the answer, Ms Ocran caned her son and later used the heated iron to burn parts of his body.

The boy, who was said to have been held to the floor, began screaming for help to which neighbours responded.

 Before the neighbours intervened, he had suffered burns on his face, chest, right ear, right shoulder and legs.