Court frees farmer on alleged defilement

Tepa (Ash), Jan 07, GNA - The Tepa circuit court presided over by Mr Sam Kwaku Bensa Alomatu on Wednesday acquitted and discharged a farmer charged with defiling an eight-year-old primary one school girl for lack of evidence.

Kwasi Addo, 28, of Nuako cottage near Abonsuaso in the Ahafo-Ano North District, pleaded not guilty.

In acquitting Addo, the court said none of the six prosecution witnesses who testified before the court could state the exact date the defilement took place.

The court also held that one Brobbey, who reported the alleged crime to the police, was not invited by the prosecution to give evidence.

The court further explained that the victim first complained of headache to the mother and she was given first aid and when the following day the victim returned from school and again complained of headache, the mother examined her vagina. The court held that it was not normal for a mother or a father to examine the vagina of a girl-child who returns from school to complain of headache and therefore doubted the mother's suspicion and examination of the victim's vagina.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Frank Asante told the court that the accused stays in the same cottage at Nuako with the victim and her parents.

He said in October 2005, the victim returned from school and complained of headache so the mother gave her some first aid. The mother examined the vagina of the victim when she again complained of headache the following day.

Inspector Asante said after the inspection, the mother asked her what had happened to her and the victim mentioned the suspect as the one who invited her to his room and had sex with her. The prosecutor said a report was made to the Abonsuaso police who arrested Addo.

The victim was sent to the Tepa District Hospital for medical examination and upon the medical report, the suspect was charged with the offence.