Palm wine tapper defiles girl, 4

Akim Swedru (E/R), May 21, GNA - The circuit court at Akim Swedru in the Birim South District, has sentenced Kwame Cudjoe, a palm taper, to a 10-year prison term in hard labour for defiling a four-year-old girl. Cudjoe, 35, pleaded guilty to defilement.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Kwaku Appiah told the court, presided over by Mr Yaw Attah Sampong, that the victim lived with her parents at the Akim Wenchi Cottage, where the convict also lived. He said on May 9, at about 1400 hours, the victim was playing in the house when Cudjoe invited her into his room and forcibly had sex with her. According to him, when the victim started crying Cudjoe persuaded her not to cry and that he would buy her some biscuit.

However, after her ordeal she reported the matter to her mother and when the convict was confronted he admitted having defiled the girl. Inspector Appiah said the victim was issued with a medical report form to attend the Akim Oda Government Hospital, while Cudjoe was later arrested.