Boy, 19, gets eight years for defilement

Tema, Aug 26, GNA - The Tema Circuit Court 'A' on Tuesday sentenced a 19-year-old sales boy, to eight years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a girl, aged 15=BD years. Godsway Quashie, a resident of Ashaiman Night Market, pleaded guilty with explanation to a charge of defilement and was accordingly convicted.

Quashie who broke down after Mrs Lorinda Owusu, the presiding judge sentenced him, explained to the court that the victim was his girlfriend who consented to the act. The victim who was visibly shaken and weeping, corroborated the explanation of the accused, saying "he did not force me". The presiding judge, however, told both the accused and victim that "her consent is not important since she is below 16 years old. For that reason the long arm of the law will deal with you". Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Adolphus Otchere told the court that on August 16 this year, the victim went to the Ashaiman Market to assist her auntie to trade.

Prosecution said after the sales, Quashie sent the victim to his residence at about 1915 hours, when the two of them met at the Ashaiman lorry station.

Chief Inspector Otchere said the accused asked the girl to have sexual intercourse with her, but she refused. This, the prosecution said, led to Quashie tearing the victim's pants and blouse, after which he defiled and camped her till the next day. Chief Inspector Otchere said the victim reported the incident to her mother and a complaint was lodged at the Ashaiman branch of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU). A medical report on the victim from the Tema General Hospital confirmed the offence, the prosecution added.