An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Tuesday sentenced a 74-year-old watchman, Issaka Chamba to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 12 year-old girl.

Chamba pleaded not guilty.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Elizabeth Alormatu told the tribunal chaired by Mohammed Nabon that the accused who lived in the same area at Sukura as the victim.

Chamba usually send the victim on errands and each time he gave her money.

He is said to have taken advantage of that to sexually abuse her.

On November 27, 1999, the accused as usual had sex with her but this time asked her to come for some money the following day, which she did.

The prosecution said the victim's parents saw her holding 5,000 cedis and when they questioned her she mentioned the accused as the one who gave her.

She confessed that Chamba had had sex with her on five occasions and had warned her not to tell anyone because the police would arrest him.