Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Source: GNA

Couert jails car washer seven years for defilement

Emmanuel Adjei, a car washer who impregnated a 13-year-old girl at the Odorna Market was on Tuesday sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Adjei pleaded guilty to defilement and the court presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava convicted him on his own plea.

Police Chief Inspector I.A.A Ahor, prosecuting told the court that the complainant was the victim’s mother who resides at Odorna in Accra.

He said about two months ago, Adjei saw the victim at the Odorna market and lured her to a spot and defiled her, after the act the convict, gave the victim two cedis.

After some few weeks the complainant notice some changes about the victim and when she quizzed her, she mentioned the convict as the one who defiled her.

This compelled the complainant to report the matter to the Police, leading to the arrest of the convict, while a medical form was issued to the victim for medical examination and treatment.

The prosecution said after the examination, it was indicated that the victim was pregnant.

In a related development, the court remanded into prison custody Raphael Asamoah a 35-year-old tailor for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl. Asamoah pleaded not guilty to defilement and would re-appear on April 3.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Sarah Acquah told the court that the complainant was the victim’s mother who resides at Ashongman Village in Accra.

She said the complainant on February 21, this year, returned from town at about 2100 hours and asked the victim to collect some food for her from a neighbour.

ASP Acquah said on reaching the room, victim detected that the room was dark and therefore, approached the accused for torchlight.

She said when the victim entered the room, the accused asked a friend with him to excuse him.

The accused then defiled the victim and the complainant realising that the victim had delayed in returning, followed up and when the victim was quizzed, she let the cat out of the bag.

The complainant reported the incident to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit at Madina, Accra.

The prosecution said the accused, denied the offence in his investigation cautioned statement but after careful investigations was charged with the offence.**