An apprentice welder, Runney Biadoo, 20, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a thirteen year-old girl by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

He pleaded guilty.

In the dock with him was Kwame Kyeremasi, a 39 year-old farmer, who is charged with abetment.

Kyeremasi, however, pleaded not guilty and has been remanded into prison custody.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainant, Abena Yeboah, a farmer and mother of the victim, resided in the same vicinity with the convict and his friend Kyeremasi, at Wassa Akropong.

She said Kyeremasi had good relationship with the complainant and went to her house frequently even when she was not at home.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said at about 2030 hours on September 13, Kyeremasi, went to the complainant's house as usual and asked the victim to accompany him to the Wassa Akropong town centre to fry some eggs.

She said while Kyeremasi and the victim were on their way, they met Biadoo who asked his friend to allow him to have sex with the victim.

Kyeremasi then demanded two Ghana cedis from the convict to buy Akpeteshi before he would release her to enable him to have sex with her.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said Biadoo quickly went home and brought the money and gave it to Kyeremasi and he handed over the victim to Biadoo, who lured the victim into his room and had sexual intercourse with her till the following morning.

She said when the victim got home the next day, and the complainant questioned her as to where she spent the night, the victim narrated the ordeal she went through in the hands of the convict and Kyeremasi.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said the complainant made a report to the Police at Wassa Akropong where a medical form was issued to the victim to attend hospital for examination and treatment.

She said the medical personnel who examined the victim confirmed that she had been defiled.