Butcher jailed 18 years for defiling a six year-old girl

Kumasi, August 5, GNA - A 20-year-old butcher who gave GH¢20 as treatment cost to the parents of a six-year-old girl he defiled to dissuade them from reporting the matter to the police has been jailed 18 years by a Kumasi Circuit Court.

Kwame Gariba, alias Damloro, who pleaded not guilty was however convicted by the court to serve his term in hard labour. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Appiah-Sakyi, told the Court that the victim, who was a primary one pupil, lived with her parents at Race Course in Kumasi where Gariba had been selling meat. He said on December 17, 2007, at about 14:30 hours whilst the victim was returning from school, Gariba met her and asked her to buy him some iced water to which she obliged.

On her return, Gariba lured her into his room where he put her on his laps and defiled her after which he threatened her not to disclose it to anyone or else she would die.

ASP Appiah-Sakyi further told the Court presided over by Mr Richard Mac Kogyapwah that the little girl kept the ordeal to herself until she fell ill three days later and her mother examined her to find cuts and lustrations in her private part. He said the little girl then revealed the secret when her mother questioned her and Gariba was confronted after victim had identified him. ASP Appiah-Sakyi admitted having defiled the little girl but gave her parents GH¢20 for her treatment. Passing judgment, Mr Kogyapwah remarked that the convict had an animalistic instinct in him and it was needed to be suppressed by putting him away from the society.