Farmer jailed 13 years for defilement

Akim Swedru, July 14, GNA - A 35-year-old farmer who defiled a co-tenant's 5-year old daughter at Akyem-Osinho in the Birim South District was on Thursday sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment by a circuit court at Akyem-Swedru.

Samuel Teye was convicted on his own plea of guilty to a charge of defilement.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector John Padmore Arthur, told the court presided over by Mr Edward Kwame Bosompim Apenkwa, that on July 2, at about 17:30 hours, while the complainant, Mr Adotei and his wife were in their kitchen, the convict secretly entered their bedroom where the little girl was sleeping.

He said the convict gagged the victim, undressed and defiled her. The prosecution said the victim who cried and bled profusely after the act rushed to the kitchen and informed her parents who reported the case the police.

He said the accused person vacated his room for sometime but was later arrested and charged.

In another case, the court remanded a 22-year-old mason, Obed Appiah, who also defiled a 14-year-old girl to reappear on August 9. Appiah admitted to have had intimacy with the girl on several occasions but pleaded not guilty to defilement claiming that the victim was his girl friend.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Arthur told the court that, between March and May, this year, the accused befriend the victim, who lived with an aunt at Akyem-Ofoase, during which he engaged her in sexual relations.

He said the girl's parents who got to know about the affair warned the accused to stay clear of the girl but he defied their order. The prosecution said on May 21, at about 2300 hours, the girl's father came upon the two lovers at a house at Ofoase where he realized that they still engaged in an amorous relationship and lodged a complaint with the police who arrested the accused and charged him with the offence.