Accra, June 29, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Thursday remanded into prison custody a 48-year-old mason for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.

James Asamoah, however, claimed he only removed the victim's pant and denied defiling her.

"My Lord, I swear I did not have sex with the victim. I only removed her pant. The victim had been playing with me," Asamoah told the court in Twi.

Although Asamoah pleaded guilty with explanation, the Court, after listening to his explanation, entered a plea of not guilty. The Court remanded him into prison custody to reappear on July 10. The case of the Prosecutor, Police Inspector Isaac A.A. Ahor was that at about 1430 hours on June 25, 2006 the victim's father, Mr Jacob Agyei left his drinking bar in the care of the accused person. The Prosecutor said Mr Agyei returned about 30 minutes later only to find the accused having sex with the victim. The victim's father apprehended the accused person and handed him over to the Police.

During Police investigations Asamoah said he only removed the victim's pant and denied having sex with the victim.