Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 24 October 2015

Source: GNA

Farmer remanded for defiling step daughter

A 39 year old famer, Isaac Kinto Kwadwo, who allegedly defiled his 13 year-old step daughter, has been remanded into prison custody by the Tarkwa District Court II.

The case, which has been adjourned to October 26, 2015, is expected to be withdrawn from the Tarkwa District Court II to the Tarkwa Circuit Court for prosecution to begin.

The accused person’s plea was not taken.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Faustina Celestina Anaman, told the Court, presided over by Madam Gifty Cudjoe that the victim, a primary four pupil, lived with the accused person and his mother in the same room at Kwabena Nartey, a village near Dadieso in the Western region.

Inspector Anaman said in April this year, the accused person attempted to have sex with his stepdaughter, while she was asleep.

The Prosecutor said the victim shouted to wake up her mother who was sleeping in the same room.

The victim left the room and the accused person, who did not know his wife Madam Mercy Gyem was trailing him, followed the victim outside.

Inspector Anaman said Mercy became surprised, walked outside quietly and demanded from Isaac as to what he was doing with the victim at such an odd hour.

The accused person could not give any tangible reason and this resulted in a quarrel between them.

The Prosecution said a week later, the victim’s mother traveled to her home town and left her in the care of the accused person.

Isaac took advantage of the situation and forcefully abused the victim, who reported her ordeal to her sister Afia and the Assistant Head Teacher of Kwabena Nartey District Assembly School, Mr. Akpatsu John Teye.

The prosecutor said they also alerted the District Director of Education for Suaman, Mr. Samuel Bortey.

Mr. Bortey subsequently reported the matter to the police who issued the victim with medical form to attend hospital for examination.

The accused person was arrested but denied the offence when interrogated at the police station.