Farmer defiles five-year-old

Dambai (V/R), May 6, GNA - Kofi Katus, 32, a farmer at Monkrati near Dambai in the Krachi East District of the Volta Region has been remanded in Police custody by an Nkwanta Magistrate Court for defiling a five-year-old Kindergarten pupil. Katus, whose plea was not taken, is co-operating with the Police in their investigations.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Douglas Kumah, told the court presided over by Mr Stephen Akortia, that Katus who lived in the same neighbourhood with the victim invited her to assist him set fire to cook after returning from the farm at about 1920 hours, on April 9. He said in the process Katus lured the victim into his room and forcibly had sex with her, gave her 10 pesewas and warned her that if she disclosed her ordeal she would die. Mr Kumah said the victim's father, who had become worried about her disappearance suddenly saw her emerge from outside visibly walking tiredly and disturbed. She disclosed that "the suspect invited her to his room and inserted something into her private part." He said a cursory check revealed a blood soaked underwear prompting a report to the Police and the arrest of Katus.

Mr Kumah said the victim was referred to Nkwanta Hospital after treatment at the community clinic due to severity of the case. He said Katus explained when he was invited by the headman of Monkrati that he was drunk after returning from the farm and did not know whether he defiled the victim or not. Meanwhile, the magistrate, Mr Akortia, has ordered a thorough medical examination on the victim for infectious diseases like gonorrhoea, HIV/AIDS and syphilis.

A medical report signed by Dr Emmanuel Kasu, Medical Superintendent of the Nkwanta District Hospital, where the victim was on admission for five days, indicated blood clots in her private part, lacerations, swollen vulva and torn hymen resulting from penetration and defilement.