Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 4 September 2014

Source: GNA

Ex-Convict jailed 20 years for defilement

Kombla Sampson, a 29-year old ex-convict was on Wednesday sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 10 year old pupil in the bush.

Sampson, a block manufacturer, charged with defilement and causing harm, pleaded guilty.

In his explanation before the court, Sampson who has done a 10-year jail term over the same offence in the Volta Region, said his mother had gone to see the victim’s father and they had agreed to pay GH¢600.00 to the family.

According to him, his mother had as a result, gone to the Volta Region to take the money and pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter so that he could pay the money.

The court presided over by Mrs Rita Agyeman-Budu told the convict that was not the reason for he (Sampson) being in court.

The judge therefore convicted Sampson on his own plea and handed down a deterrent sentence.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah told the court that Sampson resides at Parakuo Estate New site at Adenta with his family.

The victim, the prosecutor said, was a class three pupil and resides with her parents in the same vicinity.

On August 11, this year, ASP Acquah said between 0900 and 1000 hours the victim’s mother sent her on an errand some distance away from their home.

On her way, Sampson, who was in an uncompleted building, lured the victim into the bush and had sex with her.

According to prosecution, Sampson gave the victim GH¢1.00 and left the victim to her fate.

The victim however managed to find her way home but she did not inform her parents about her ordeal because Sampson had threatened her not to tell anyone about it.

However, after a week, the mother observed that the victim’s gait had changed and after confronting her, she let the cat out of the bag.

Prosecution said the victim’s father and mother arrested Sampson and in their bid to send him to the Police, Sampson bit the victim’s father right hand.

When a report was made to the police, investigations revealed that Sampson committed a similar offence at Ho in the Volta Region and was sentenced to 10 years.