Carpenter remanded for defilement

Peter Ahiati, a 44-year-old carpenter who defiled an eight-year-old pupil was on Thursday arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court. Ahiati, aka Efo, has been charged with defilement contrary to section 10 (2) of Act 29/60 as amended by section 11 0f Act 544 of 1998.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was remanded into Police custody to re-appear on February 14, 2013.

The Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah said both the complainant who is the mother of the victim and accused lived in the same vicinity at Ogbojo.

He said on December 24, 2012 at about 1900 hours the victim attended nature’s call in a nearby bush and was not coming back home and the mother went to look for her but could not find her.

ASP Acquah said later whiles the complainant was returning home she saw the victim coming from the direction of the accused person's kiosk.

She said the complainant became suspicious and took the victim back to the accused’s place and saw him in his pants.

She said the complainant confronted the accused over her suspicion but he denied the victim came to his kiosk.

ASP Acquah said the complainant also questioned the victim right there before the accused but she refused to talk.

She said three days later while the complainant was bathing the victim she began to complain of pains in her private parts and quizzed her.

She said the victim then narrated the ordeal that the accused put her through on the night of December 24 and later a report was made to the Madina Police. ASP Acquah said a medical form was issued for the victim to be sent to the hospital for treatment.

She said the accused after the incident parked everything from his kiosk and left the area but was later traced to his hideout at Adjirigano near East Legon where he was arrested.