Accra Dec. 21, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced a 35-year old Mason to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour for defiling an eight-year-old girl.

Prosper Kugblenu pleaded not guilty but the Court found him guilty saying the Prosecution had proved its case against him.

The case of the Prosecution was that the victim, who did not attend school, lived with her Aunt at Adenta.

On November 30, 2004 at 0900 hours, the Aunt of the victim, who is also the complainant, after selling banku to workers at a construction site, arranged with the workers to prepare fufu and light soup for them. Prosecution said everyone paid 2,000 cedis each except Kugblenu, who said he had no money on him at that time.

The victim's Aunt, therefore, asked her to accompany Kugblenu to his house for the money. Kugblenu, however, took the victim into a kiosk and defiled her.

Prosecution said a puppy, which accompanied the victim to Kugblenu's house, started barking when the victim broke out in tears. This frightened Kugblenu and he left the victim to her fate. Prosecution said as soon as the victim reached home she informed her Aunt about her ordeal and the Aunt reported the matter to the Police and Kugblenu was arrested.