Unemployed jailed 10 years for defilement

Drama unfolded at an Accra Circuit Court when Adjei Laryea, an 18-year-old unemployed, said he was advised by his police cells mates to plead guilty to the charge of defilement.

Laryea said his colleagues had told him that because he was an orphan, if he pleaded guilty to defiling a five-year-old girl, he would be pardoned by the court.

But when he was asked whether he committed the offence and he admitted committing the crime.

Prosecution had said that Laryea had committed a similar offence and put before a court but when the complainant in the matter was not forthcoming, he was discharged.

The court presided over by Sedina Agbemava convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah told the court that the victim and her mother (the Complainant) reside at New Weija in Accra.

On December 26 last year the victim, a class one pupil, followed her mother to a hairdressing saloon. At the saloon the victim went outside to play and Laryea saw the victim whom he later lured into an uncompleted building in a nearby bush and defiled her.

ASP Acquah said the victim shouted for help and a witness went to the scene but Laryea took to his heels and the little girl ran to the witness.

The witness raised an alarm and Laryea was apprehended and handed over to the Police. During interrogation, prosecution said, accused said he attempted to defile the victim but on seeing the witness he bolted.

ASP Acquah said a medical examination showed that the victim’s hymen had been broken.