The Bodi Circuit Court has remanded a woman, Vivian Anto, into police custody for a medical and psychiatric evaluation after she allegedly cut off the toe of her 9-year-old daughter.
Vivian Anto was remanded to reappear before the court on April 21, 2026.
During proceedings, counsel for the accused, Lawyer Ebenezer Abiaw, pleaded with the court to grant his client temporary release, arguing that she is battling a mental health condition and should be allowed to receive care from her family.
However, the prosecution, led by Superintendent Isaac Ostin, opposed the request. He told the court that there is no evidence to support claims that the accused is mentally ill. He further argued that at the time of her arrest, Vivian Anto was coherent enough to give a statement to the police.
The prosecutor also noted that neither the family nor the defence had presented any medical records to substantiate the claim of mental illness, insisting that the accused should stand trial.
In court, Vivian Anto remained unresponsive and did not answer questions posed by the judge, either verbally or through gestures.
Presiding judge, His Honour James Mensah Donkor, stated that due to the accused’s lack of response, the court could not proceed effectively. He therefore ordered that she be remanded into police custody and referred to a psychiatric hospital to assess her mental condition.
The case has been adjourned to April 21, 2026, for further hearing.
