Samuel Buabeng, 46, popularly known as ''Bishop'' Bob Okalla was on Monday put before a Sunyani Circuit court accused of defiling a 15-year old girl at Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region. Bob Okalla surrendered to the Sunyani Police Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) on Sunday after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

The popular comedian had been on the run, for about eight months after the alleged act last October.

He pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and defilement and the court, presided over by Justice G.H.K. Debrah remanded him in custody to appear again on June 6, when his accusers will be present in court.

The court was told that the accused and other comedians went to Nkoranza last October to stage a show and lodged at a hotel after the programme. The victim and her friend were said to have attended the show after which the accused asked them to show him a place to buy some food items.

The accused, after purchasing some eggs, allegedly lured the girl into his hotel room, locked the door and forcibly had sex with her.

The victim, after the act, started bleeding and having abdominal pains. She informed a witness in the case and the accused was confronted the same night.

Okalla was said to have asked the victim and his friend to come to the hotel the following day but when they got there, he had absconded. The victim kept her ordeal from her parents and spilt the beans only after she fell ill. A report was made to the police but all efforts to arrest the accused at his Teshie residence proved futile until he surrendered.