Kumasi, June 16, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced Yaw Owusu 21, a mason to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour on his own plea for defiling a nine-year old girl.

Passing sentence Mr Justice R.M. Kugyapwah, expressed concern of the increase in defilement cases and said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police George Appiah-Serkye told the court that the accused and victim lived in the same vicinity in Kumasi.

He said during the afternoon of June 3, this year, the accused took advantage of the absence of the victim's mother in the house and lured her into his room and defiled her. The prosecution said in the course of the act, the victim who could not withstand the excruciating pain screamed that attracted the victim's sister who rushed to the scene without the notice of the accused. ASP Appiah-Serkye said the victim's sister informed their mother who together went to the scene and caught the accused red-handed in the act.

He said a report was made to the Ridge Police who issued a police medical form to the victim for medical care. The prosecution said the accused was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.