A 24-year-old taxi driver was on Tuesday sentenced to 19 years imprisonment by an Accra circuit court after he was found guilty of defiling a five-year-old girl at Chorkor in Accra.

Emmanuel Odame, charged with defilement, pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava. The court, at the end of the trial, however, found Odame guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Defence counsel, Mr K.A Owusu Ansah, prayed for mitigation, saying Odame was a first time offender and young hence be given a lighter sentence. The court, however, handed down 19 years jail term, saying it took into consideration the number of years Odame had spent in custody.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah told the court that the victim was a class one pupil who resides at Chorkor with her parents, who are the complainant in the matter. ASP Acquah said Odame resided in the same vicinity with the victim.

According to prosecution, on October 24, 2012 in the afternoon, while the victim and her sibling were playing in the vicinity, Odame lured the victim into his room and had sex with her.

ASP Acquah said after the act, the victim went home and disclosed her ordeal to her mother who in turn lodged a complaint with the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit at Dansoman. The police issued the victim with a medical report and later arrested Odame.