Mpraeso, May 20, GNA - Godfred Adika, a 40-year-old fisherman, was on Wednesday remanded in police custody by the Mpraeso Circuit Court for defiling a 14-year-old primary four pupil. Adika pleaded not guilty to the charge and will re- appear on May 26.

Detective Police Inspector Christian Apronti told the court presided over by Mr Alex Owusu Ofori that the victim, her mother and Adika have been living in the same house at Sempoa for the past one-and-half years.

He said Adika had been sending the victim on errands and took advantage of their relationship and had sexual intercourse with her. The prosecutor said the victim fell sick last month and her mother detected a change in her movement but when confronted she said she was had a boil so her mother bought her an ointment to apply on it. He said on April 24, the victim fell sick again and was taken to a clinic at Sempoa where she was treated and discharged. The prosecutor said the victim later narrated her sexual ordeal to her parents and said Adika normally gave her GHC 3 and warned her not to reveal it to anyone else she would die. After the disclosure, the parents sent the victim to the clinic for treatment and were referred to the Nkawkaw Holy Family Hospital for further treatment.

At the hospital it was detected that the girl had been defiled and a report was made to the Domestic Violence and Victim's Support Unit (DOVVSU). 20 May 09