Pastor Michael Aflah Cornerstone of the Voice of Jesus Salvation and Prayer Ministry in Ho on Wednesday appeared before a Ho Circuit Court for allegedly defiling his 13-year-old step-daughter.

Pastor Cornerstone pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of GHC20,000 with two sureties, one of which should be justified.

He will go back to court on Thursday, April 25, 2013.

Few minutes after the case was adjourned, Pastor Cornerstone blocked the entrance to the courtroom and was heard praying for about two minutes.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Aboagye told the court presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah, a Ho High Court Judge that Pastor Cornerstone married the victim’s mother in 2010.

He said in 2011, while the victim’s mother was away in the Republic of Togo on a business trip, Pastor Cornerstone allegedly lured the victim into a room one afternoon and defiled her.

ASP Aboagye said after the act, Pastor Cornerstone warned the victim not to reveal her ordeal to anyone or else she would die.

He said early February this year, while the victim’s mother was fast asleep, Pastor Cornerstone sneaked to the sitting room where the victim was sleeping and defiled her again.

ASP Aboagye said two weeks later, the victim started having pains in her lower abdomen and complained to the mother, who examined her private part and detected that she had been defiled.

He said when the victim’s mother inquired from her who defiled her, she refused to mention the one responsible, saying she might die.

ASP Aboagye said the victim later mentioned Pastor Cornerstone as the one who defiled her following her mother’s persistence.

He said Pastor Cornerstone deserted his home for two weeks when the victim’s mother told him she had an issue to discuss with him concerning her daughter.

ASP Aboagye said Pastor Cornerstone was spotted at a nearby town of Nyangbo-Gagbefe and was arrested.