Tema, Feb. 7, GNA - A 23-year-old farmer, Alhassan Yaya, has been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in hard labour by the Tema Circuit Court 'A' for defiling a five year-old girl. Yaya pleaded guilty. The facts as presented by Chief Inspector Sarah Acquah, prosecutor, indicated that on December 18, 2005 at about 1800 hours, Yaya, who resided opposite the house of the girl's parents, lured the five-year-old into his room under the pretext of giving her some smoked fish.

Chief Inspector Acquah stated that the victim returned from the room of the accused weeping with blood oozing out of her genitalia and upon questioning by her parents, she said Yaya forcibly had sex with her.

The court heard that a medical report later confirmed that the girl had been defiled.

The prosecution said the accused went into hiding after the incident but he was traced and arrested on January 28, 2006.