Mother burns 11-year-old son with hot iron in Ho

A 25-year-old cook in Ho, identified as Jemima Kwaku, is standing trial at the Ho Circuit Court for allegedly burning her 11-year-old son with a heated pressing iron as punishment for misplacing a pen.

The court, presided over by Justice Abdul O. Hakeem, heard that the incident occurred on July 15, 2025, at Ho Barracks–New Town, after the accused locked the boy in a bedroom before carrying out the brutal act.

According to the prosecution, led by ASP Noah Amuzu, Jemima became enraged when her son failed to return with the pen she had bought for him.

The boy explained that a classmate had borrowed it and promised to return it the next day, but the explanation did not satisfy the accused.

She allegedly ordered the child into the bedroom, plugged in a pressing iron, and when it became hot, pressed it onto his belly, chest, lips, shoulders, backside, and other parts of his body.

The court was told that Jemima later threatened the boy not to reveal the ordeal.

The abuse came to light on July 18, 2025, when the boy’s class teacher noticed he was unusually withdrawn.

After probing, the child disclosed his ordeal, prompting the school to report the matter to the police.

The victim was immediately taken to hospital for treatment and is currently under the care of social workers.

The accused, who appeared before the court on July 21, 2025, pleaded not guilty to causing harm and has been remanded in prison custody until August 19, 2025.

In a similar case in May 2024, a 62-year-old woman, Margaret Gafa, was prosecuted in Ho for burning her 9-year-old niece with a hot iron after the child failed to sell all the kebabs she had been assigned before school.

That victim also had to be placed in social care.