Farmer, 58, Jailed For Defilment

A 58-year-old farmer at Kenyako, near Agona Duakwa, has been jailed 15 years hard labour by an Agona Swedru Circuit Court for defiling a seven-year-old school girl. Kwesi Saasah, who pleaded guilty, told the court that he was tempted by the devil to defile the girl because he has no wife. He said that his wife had divorced him "because of poverty." Prosecuting, Miss Comfort Darkoh, told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Tom Bentil, that the accused and the victim's parents were co-tenants.

A 58-year-old farmer at Kenyako, near Agona Duakwa, has been jailed 15 years hard labour by an Agona Swedru Circuit Court for defiling a seven-year-old school girl. Kwesi Saasah, who pleaded guilty, told the court that he was tempted by the devil to defile the girl because he has no wife. He said that his wife had divorced him "because of poverty." Prosecuting, Miss Comfort Darkoh, told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Tom Bentil, that the accused and the victim's parents were co-tenants. On the day of the incident, the tenants slept in the compound of the house because of the heat in the rooms. At about 3 am the accused sneaked to where the victim was sleeping, removed her panties, gagged her with his cloth and defiled her. A co-tenant, Mary Arthur, who saw the accused in the act, was threatened with a severe beating by the accused if she informed the parents of the victim. According to the prosecution, Mary ignored the threat and informed the victim's parents. Sensing danger, Saasah bolted into the bush but was later arrested by the Duakwa police. A medical report confirmed that the victim had been sexually assaulted.