Steel bender gets 10 years for defilement

Accra Nov. 7, GNA- A 19-year-old steel bender who threatened a 13-year old girl with a pair of scissors and defiled her was on Friday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Circuit Court in Accra. Ernest Arkoh pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement and the court convicted him accordingly. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lawrence Gbele told the court, presided over Mrs. Ivy Heward-Mills that the complainant was the victim's mother.

ASP Gbele said Arkoh who resides at Mallam, a suburb in Accra, is known

to the victim. On October 20, this year at about 8:00 pm the victim went to watch television at a nearby house and was returning reroute close to Arkoh's house. Arkoh, who saw the victim pass by invited her into his room under the pretence of sending her. As soon as the victim reached the entrance Arkoh dragged her into his room, undressed her and threatened her with a pair of scissors if she failed to have sex with him. Prosecution said the victim got scared and she gave in to the convict. A report was however made to the Police at Odorkor, who issued the victim with a medical form to visit the hospital for medical examination.