Regional News of Thursday, 18 March 2004

Source: GNA

Mason remanded for alleged defilement

Akim Swedru, March 18, GNA- Kwadwo Philip, a mason was on Thursday remanded in police custody by Akim Swedru circuit court for allegedly defiling a ten-year-old class one pupil at Akim Otwereso in the Birim North district.

The accused, married with two children, pleaded an alibi but his wife, Madam Afua Baduwaa, contradicted her husband's statement by telling the court that she saw her husband, who was by then drunk and naked in their room.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Police Inspector C. K. Boakye, had told the Court, presided over by Mr George Kingsley Koomson that the accused and the victim lived in the same compound house at Akim Otwereso. He said on December 18, 2003, the accused, taking advantage of the absence of other tenants in the house, sent the victim to fetch him water.

The prosecutor said after bringing the water, the accused requested the victim to send it to his room where he pounced on her and started to forcibly have sex with her.

Inspector Boakye said the cries of the victim attracted the attention of the accused's wife who was outside the house and she ran into the room and when she saw her husband in the act she started to fight him.

The case was later reported to the police and the victim was issued with a medical report to attend to hospital where it was proved that she has been defiled.

The case has been adjourned to March 24.