Man jailed 10 years for defilment

The Jasikan Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old palm-wine tapper to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his nine-year-old stepdaughter. He is also to pay a fine of ?1.5 million as compensation to the victim.

Sakpaku Tawish, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced on his own plea by the court, chaired by Mr E.K. Ayebi.

Chief Inspector I.K. Adade, prosecuting, told the court that the victim stays with her mother and stepfather at Jasikan.

He said in February last year, while the victim's mother left for Tapa Abotoase to buy goods for sale, Tawiah lured her to his bedroom and forcibly assaulted her sexually after which he threatened her with death if she should ever disclose the ordeal to anybody.

The prosecutor said a few days later, the victim's mother detected an unusual movement in her and subjected her to questioning. Chief Inspector Adade said the girl revealed the act that took place between her and her stepfather.

He said at a family tribunal, Tawiah admitted the offence and he was ordered to take care of the treatment of the girl. He therefore paid a total of ?150,000 for the treatment at the Hohoe Government Hospital.

On November 19, 2001, Tawiah was arrested by the Jasikan Police and charged with the offence. The court further warned that such criminal acts must not be tried by traditional authorities. Tawiah was summarily sentenced to serve as a deterrent to other offenders.