Man sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for defilement.

Techiman (B/A), April 8, GNA - Abubakari Dauda, 26, who was found guilty of defiling a nine-year old girl has been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in hard labour by the Techiman circuit tribunal, chaired by Mr Justice Nicholas Abodakpi. He pleaded not guilty.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Abodakpi expressed the hope that the accused would be reformed after serving the prison term. Chief Inspector S. Y. Jebuni of Nsuta Police Station told the tribunal that Dauda, who lived in a house near where the girl stayed at Manso, on August five, last year, went to her house to ask for water.

The prosecutor said that the mother of the victim was busily preparing food so she asked her daughter to attend to the accused. Chief Inspector Jebuni said when the girl sent the water the accused pulled her into his room and defiled her.

He said the victim spent some time before returning from the errand but kept the ordeal to herself. The next morning while sweeping, the mother detected that her daughter was bleeding from the vagina and confronted her.

The victim mentioned Dauda as having defiled her and when he was queried he admitted the offence and promised to pay for the medical expenses. The matter was, however, reported to the Police and he was consequently arrested.