Storekeeper before court for defilement

Sunyani (B/A) June 22, GNA - Peter Amankwaah, a 59 year-old storekeeper of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Wednesday appeared before a Magistrate court 'b' in Sunyani for allegedly inserting his fingers into the private part of a six-year-old girl. Mr. Amankwaah pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault and was granted 10 million cedis bail to re-appear before the court on July 7 this year.

Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr. Albert Zoogah that the complainant in the case is Ayamba Adaba, father of the victim.

He said on July eight 2003 at about 1430 hours Amankwaah invited the victim who was on her way to the parents' shop after close of school into his office and asked her to sit on his lap.

Amankwaah allegedly removed the small girl's pant and inserted his fingers in her vagina, after which he allowed her to go but she reported her ordeal to her parents.

Chief Inspector Baafi said the accused denied the offence when the girl's parents confronted him on the issue so the matter was reported to the police and a medical report indicated that she had been sexually assaulted.

He said Amankwaah told the police during interrogation that the girl came to his office after attending to nature's call and asked him to assist her to put on her pant and dress. The prosecutor said the accused was charged with the offence after police investigations.