Pensioner, 70, jailed 15 years for defilement

Nkawkaw, March 12, GNA - A circuit court at Mpraeso presided over by Mr Justice Kwabena Assuman-Adu, has sentenced a 70-year-old pensioner of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to 15 years' imprisonment in hard labour (IHL) for defiling two primary three school girls aged 13 years at Mpraeso.

Akakpo Gbetsiafa from Denu, in the Volta Region pleaded guilty. Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector Alex Gyamera Acheampong, told the court that two weeks ago, one of the victim's mother who is a "koko" seller at the local Catholic Primary School, sent her to take some "koko" to the accused, who was a watchman in a nearby private house, where he took advantage to defile her and warned her not to tell anyone.

He said on the March 3, the pensioner invited the victim to his work place and she also invited her friend to accompany her to the place and Gbetsiafa defiled the two girls.

A teacher of the school who saw them leaving the house questioned them where they were returning from and one of them said they went to the watchman's work place and admitted that the watchman had defiled them.

The prosecutor said the teacher reported the incident to the parents who in turn reported to the police and the Gbetsiafa was arrested and charged with the offence.

The prosecutor said a medical examination on the "koko" sellers' daughter showed that she had been defiled on six occasions, while efforts were being made to trace the other girl for medical examination. When the Presiding Judge questioned the accused why he choose to defile girls of his grand daughters age instead of having sex with his wife, he said it was the work of the devil.

Passing sentence, the Judge said the accused should be given a longer sentence to keep him away from the society to enable the younger children to attend school to become responsible adults to lead the nation in future. 12 March 06