A Circuit Court at Fiapre, near Sunyani, has sentenced a 33- year-old farmer to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a 10 year-old class six pupil at Watro, near Atebubu.

Hamza Muhammad pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi told the court, presided by Mr. Benjamin Osei that Muhammad, a farmer, lived in the same vicinity at Watro as the victim and her parents.

He said on February 27 the victim’s parents travelled out of town, leaving the victim and her siblings in the care of an elder brother, who also in the evening went to town and left the victim to sleep with her younger siblings.

The prosecutor said at about 2300 hours Muhammad sneaked into the room and forcibly defiled her.

Chief Inspector Baafi said the victim shouted for help but that did not deter Muhammad who continued until he became satisfied and left.

The prosecutor said victim wept until the elder brother returned from town and she narrated her ordeal to him. The other siblings also informed their parents when they came back from the journey the next day.

The parents reported the matter to the police and a medical form was issued to the victim to attend hospital.

Chief Inspector Baafi said the medical report indicated the girl had been defiled and Muhammad was arrested and charged with the offence.

He said Muhammad admitted the offence at the Police Station upon interrogation and asked for forgiveness.**