Mason gets 15 years for defilement

An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday handed a 15- year jail sentence to one Michael Bortey, a Mason, for defiling a 12 year-old girl.

Michael, who pleaded guilty before the court, was convicted on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector J. B Asante told the court that the victim is a 12 year-old primary 6 pupil, who lives with her parents in a rented house at Oshiyie, near Kokrobite, whilst the convict, Michael also lives in the same vicinity with them.

She said on February 8, 2015, at about 1845 hours, the victim was sent by her auntie to buy bread from a nearby house.

She said when the victim was returning from the errand and reached a spot near the Oshiyie L/A Primary School; the convict stopped her in the dark and instructed her to come. The victim refused and sensing danger took to her heels.

The prosecution said Michael pursued her in the darkness and grabbed her and covered her face with his shirt.

He then dragged her into one of the classrooms with the shirt tied around the victims head, pushed her down and forcibly had sex with her on the bare floor.

She told the court that the victim tried to shout for help in the course of the act, but Michael threatened her, that he would slap her with a knife if she tries that.

Police Inspector Asante said after the act the convict also threatened the victim not to disclose her ordeal to anyone especially her mother and then told her to leave.

When the victim got home, her auntie noticed that she was terrified but she refused to explain why, until the complainant in the case questioned her and she narrated her ordeal.

She told the court that the complainant immediately informed the victim’s father and they rushed to the police station with the victim to lodge a complaint.

In the course of investigations, Michael was arrested and he admitted the offence in his caution statement.