Two Mormon missionaries jailed 17 years for defilement

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Friday sentenced two missionaries of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) to various jail terms after finding them guilty on charges of conspiracy and defilement.

The convicts Omale Ojonugwnuwa, alias Elder Omale, a 25-year-

old Nigerian and Thatayaone Keeng, 20, from Botswana, were

evangelising on behalf of the church popularly called Mormons in

Ghana.

They pleaded not guilty to defiling a 14-year-old house help of a

next door neighbour, who runs errands for them.

The court sentenced Elder Omale to 10 years imprisonment for

conspiracy and defilement while Keeng was sentenced to seven years

imprisonment for defilement by the court presided over by Mrs

Georgina Mensah Datsa.

It said that the prosecution had established the essential

ingredients of the offences preferred against them, pointing out how

the victim gave a detailed account of the sequence of sex the

convicts had with her.

The court ordered that diaries belonging to the convicts tendered

in evidence should be returned to them.

Defence counsel prayed the court to exercise utmost mercy on the

accused persons because they are young, and would advise

themselves on what action to take.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Ekua Acquah told

the court that the complainant was a dressmaker who lived with the

victim as her house help in Accra, and the accused persons had been

sending the victim occasionally.

She said on February 1, 2010, Elder Omale after calling the victim

under the pretext of sending her on an errand, asked her whether

she had ever been kissed, to which she responded in the negative.

ASP Acquah said Elder Omale called the victim to his room and

defiled her after which Keeng, who was in the room and witnessed

the act, also took his turn.

After satisfying themselves, they warned the victim not to

disclose the ordeal to her mistress otherwise she would be sent back

to the village.

ASP Acquah said on another occasion, March 10, the complainant

asked the victim to fetch some water from a polytank in the

compound.

But the victim could not find key to the polytank and went to the

accused persons for their key but they denied it was in their

possession.

ASP Acquah said that in the process, the accused persons defiled

the victim again but a friend of the complainant saw the victim enter

the accused persons' room.

The prosecution said the complainant asked the victim what the

accused persons invited her for.

ASP Acquah said that the victim said she had been defiled by the

accused persons.

The prosecution said the case was reported to the Domestic

Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police

Service.

ASP Acquah said that medical examination indicated that the girl'

hymen had been broken.