File photo
A 24-year-old mason has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for abducting and defiling a 14-year-old girl.
The accused, Francis Blay, faced two counts of abduction and defilement and entered a guilty plea.
The court presided over by Hathia Ama Manu, convicted Blay based on his plea.
Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor, the prosecutor, reported that the complainant, the victim's elder sister, the victim, a school dropout and Blay were all residents of New Atuabo in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality. In 2023, Blay was known to be a friend of the victim's family.
The court was informed that on February 25, 2023, around 6:30 PM, the complainant sent the victim to purchase camphor from a store across from their house. However, the victim did not return home with the item.
After an unsuccessful search in the neighbourhood, the complainant reported the case to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Tarkwa on February 26, 2023.
Chief Superintendent Odonkor mentioned that an Extract of Occurrence was issued for the complainant, enabling announcements to be broadcast on radio stations in Tarkwa and Kumasi in an effort to locate the victim, but these efforts were fruitless.
On Monday, April 22, 2024, at approximately 6:00 PM, the complainant received a call from a woman named Diana, residing in Esiama Kikam in the Western Region. Diana disclosed that the victim was living with Blay in Kikam and had recently given birth, struggling to cope.
The complainant immediately contacted DOVVSU in Tarkwa, and with assistance from police officers in Esiama, Blay was apprehended, and the victim was rescued along with her two-month-old baby.
During the investigation, the complainant requested that the police compel Blay to reimburse the expenses incurred while searching for the victim and to provide for the baby's care.
