Tema, Feb 26, GNA - An 18-year-old cattle herdsman was on Thursday arraigned before the Tema Circuit Court 'A' for defiling a six-year-old girl. James Tei pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been remanded into prison custody to re-appear on March 03.

Police Chief Inspector Mary Assunta told the court presided over by Mrs. Laurenda Owusu that Tei, a resident of Ashaley Botwe, visited his relatives at Fiakonya near Dodowa where the victim stayed. Chief Inspector Assunta said on February 16 at about 0200 hours the accused went to the house of the victim and saw the parents of the victim sleeping outside. The accused entered the room where the victim was sleeping and sexually defiled her.

Chief Inspector Assunta said the screaming of the victim woke her mother up who went to the room and started shouting. The prosecutor said the accused hurriedly came out and took to his heels but was arrested and handed over to the police.