Akim Swedru, March 15, GNA - The Akim Swedru Circuit Court has remanded a 24-year-old farmer, Kofi Ketu, charged with defilement of a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

The accused pleaded not guilty and is to re-appear on March 24. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector J.P Arthur of Ghana Police Service told the court that the victim and the accused lived in the same house at Akotekrom in the Birim South District.

On December 13 last year, the victim went to fetch water behind Ketu's premises and Ketu told the girl that the water there was contaminated.

He directed her to a room in his house where she could get potable water.

When she entered the room the accused followed her and locked the door, covered her mouth and forcibly had sex with her.

The victim started bleeding and she reported the incident to her parents who caused Ketu's was arrest.