Accra, May 30, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Monday remanded into police custody a 39-year-old cobbler for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl at Israel in Accra.

Kwame Fosu, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement, is to reappear on June 8.

Inspector I. A.A. Ahor, the prosecutor, told the court that on May 20 the complainant, a nurse, was informed that the victim was seen in the process of putting on her dress in an uncompleted building. Based on that, the prosecutor said the complainant invited the victim for interrogation and she confessed that on January 11 the accused person lured her into an uncompleted building and had sex with her. Again on May 16, at about 1000 hours, the accused picked the victim from school and took her to the same place and defiled her. Thereafter the accused person warned the victim not inform anyone else she would die. The prosecutor said Fosu then gave the victim 10 pesewas. According to the prosecutor the complainant heard about the incident and lodged a formal complainant with the Police and Fosu was apprehended.

In another development the court remanded into custody James Nartey, a construction worker, who has been accused of defiling a 13-year-old girl. Nartey pleaded not guilty and he is to reappear on June 8. The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Sarah Aquah said the victim helped her mother to prepare and sell tuo zaafi where the accused person normally came to eat. The prosecutor said on May 15 at about 1300 hours the victim's mother asked her to go and inform the accused person that the food was ready. When she went, Nartey lured her into a wooden structure and had sex with her.

The prosecutor said during the act, the Nartey's girlfriend called Cecilia, chanced upon them and she informed the victim's mother who in turn alerted the victim's father. The case was reported to the police and Nartey was arrested. 30 May 11