Ho, March 16, GNA - A 71-year old farmer, from Akoefe-Atsati in the Ho Municipality, was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by a circuit court in Ho for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old school girl.

Kwadwo Koku, who pleaded guilty but said he could not penetrate the victim after several attempts, would reappear at court tomorrow. Chief Inspector Sampson Agboado, told the court presided over by Mr. Ernest Obimpeh that Koku and the victim live in the same area and Koku had been visiting the victim's grandfather who is his (Koku) friend. The Prosecution said the accused has been making overtures to the victim anytime he visited his friend.

Chief Insp. Agboado said Kporhor, a 16-year-old girlfriend of Koku, befriended the victim, who she had been sending to Koku to collect money for her.

He said Koku took advantage of the arrangement and defiled the victim on three occasions.

Chief Insp. Agboado said on the fourth occasion, luck eluded Koku and he was caught in the act by an auntie of the victim, who raised the alarm that attracted other people to the scene. He said a formal complaint was lodged at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Police Service and Koku was arrested.