Akim Swedru Court convicts cripple for defilement

Akim Swedru, July 30, GNA - A large crowd at the Akim Swedru Circuit Court, on Thursday could not control their laughter when a cripple pleaded guilty to defiling a teenager, but claimed the victim offered herself to him as "compensation" for mending a shoe for her. The Court sentenced Kwesi Ofori, 38, on his own plea to eight years' imprisonment.

The Prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector Victor Haward, told the Court that Kwesi, a cobbler, who lives at Akim Osorase in the Birim South District, with the 13-year-old pupil, asked the victim who was on her way to School on July 19, to pick a bottle from his room and buy him local gin (akpeteshie).

Kwesi entered the room and as soon as the victim got in, he sexually assaulted her.

The accused threatened the victim with death with a wooden cross with the inscription "Calico" if she discloses the incident. The victim complained about severe abdominal pains and reported the incident to her mother leading to the arrest of the accused.