A 27 year old galamsey operator (illegal miner), Raymond Assimadi has been remanded into prison custody for defiling a 14 year-old girl by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

He pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on June 21.

Police Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant, Agnes Kumah, the mother of the victim lives in the same house at Esuoso with the accused who is popularly known as Rasta.

According to the Prosecutor, about a month ago the accused came to sought permission from the complainant to perch his hut in her compound which she agreed and has since been living with them.

Inspector Amponsah said about two weeks ago, the victim reported to the complainant that the accused held her breast in her absence and she warned him to desist from such act.

He said on June 6, the complainant left the victim and her three younger siblings at home and around 0830 hours, she had a tip off that the accused had defiled the victim around their well, and that both the girl and Assimadi have been sent to the Nsuta Police Station.

The complainant proceeded to the police station where she was given a medical form to take the victim to the Tarkwa Government Hospital for examination.

Inspector Amponsah said the medical personnel in his examination detected that the victim had been defiled.

He said the victim and the accused were referred to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service leading to arraigning of Assimadi.**