Eighteen year-old boy jailed for defiling a 13-year-old girl

Kumawu (Ash), Nov. 29, GNA - A Kumawu Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Owusu-Afriyie, has sentenced an 18-year-old boy to three years' imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a 13-year-old girl.

Kwadwo Bosomtwe, a corn mill operator, was also ordered to compensate his victim with two million cedis to defray her hospital bill.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Anthony Godfred Sakyi told the court that sometime in September this year, Bosomtwe lured the girl into his room under the pretext of sending her on an errand.

The prosecutor said the accused asked the girl to have sex with him and that she resisted initially but later succumbed.

Chief Inspector Sakyi said on September 26, at about 2000 hours after a video show, Bosomtwe again invited the girl into his room and in desperation tore the girl's panties and had sex with her.

The victim later told her mother who also informed the police. A medical examination confirmed she was defiled.

In his defence, the accused said the victim was his girlfriend but never knew she was a minor and begged for leniency.

Mr Justice Owusu-Afriyie, in passing judgement, said it was an offence under the laws to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, even with her consent.

He said the minimum penalty for the offence ranges between seven and 25 years, but since the accused had no prior criminal offence, and considering his age, he would be lenient and jail him for only three years.