Chief Justice petitioned over defilement case

Koforidua, Sept 18, GNA - A farmer at Akyem Asafo in the East Akim District, Mr Solomon Obeng, has appealed to the Chief Justice to help his family unravel the circumstances that led to a circuit court judge at Asamankese trying alleged defilement of his seven-year daughter to strike out the case.

Mr Obeng said the Judge "did not assign any tangible reason to warrant the discontinuation of the case."

But the judge, Mr Kofi Akrowiah, has denied any untoward behaviour in handling of case, explaining that he had to strike out the case because the "prosecution was unprepared to proceed with the case, resulting from frequent adjournments."

Mr Obeng alleged that one Emmanuel Azumah, a co-tenant, raped his seven-year daughter on three occasions in August 2005. He said when the wife observed a whitish fluid oozing from the girl's genital organ and she mentioned Azumah as the person who had sexually abused her.

The victim said Azumah would, after every sexual act, told her to keep the act secret and to take her bath to wash away any seminal fluids.

Mr Obeng quoted her daughter as having told him that anytime Azumah wanted to defile her, he would besmear her face with a whitish substance.

He said based on the girl's testimony, the family confronted Azumah who admitted the offence and later offered the family 100,000 cedis as compensation.

Mr Obeng said he rejected the offer and lodged a complaint with the police who took him and the daughter to the Koforidua Regional Hospital where the offence was confirmed.

He said subsequently, the case was listed at the Asamankese Circuit Court.

Mr Akrowiah said "it was clear that the prosecution was unprepared to proceed with the case resulting in frequent adjournments, more so the prosecutor claimed he was yet to meet the witness, so the court had no option but to strike out the case for want of prosecution after several adjournments."

He said he advised the prosecution in his ruling that they could re-arrest the accused whenever they were ready to proceed with the case.