Asamankese (E/R), July 14, GNA- A 31-year-old man with HIV-positive, who defiled a 12-year-old class six pupil has been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by the Asamankese Circuit Court. Samuel Atta Kakrah, alias 'Crashing" 31, a lotto receiver, pleaded guilty.

Detective Police Inspector K. A. Boateng, told the court, presided over by Mr S. S. Appiah, that the girl used a path in front of Kakrah's house at Akyem Sagyimase, near Kyebi, in the Eastern Region to school. He said on May 6, this year, at about 3.00 p.m. when the girl was going home from school, Kakrah called and sent her to buy him 500 cedis worth of banku from a nearby house.

On her return, Kakrah asked her to send it into his room. He quickly followed and gagged her and forcibly had sex with her, Inspector Boateng said.

Kakrah gave the girl 200 cedis and warned her not to tell anybody or else she would die.

However, on May 12, the prosecutor said, the girl who could no longer bear the pains in her genital organ reported the matter to her mother who in turn sent her to the Kyebi Government Hospital where a medical officer confirmed that she had been carnally assaulted. A report was made to the police and the accused was subsequently arrested.

The prosecutor said in Kakra's statement, he admitted the offence but claimed the act was upon the consent of the victim.

The judge, Mr. Appiah ordered that Kakra should be sent to the Kyebi hospital for the determination of his HIV status and a report issued by the hospital said "a thorough HIV test has been conducted on Atta Kakrah and he is found to be HIV positive".

In sentencing him, the judge noted that Kakra possibly knew of his HIV status but deliberately infected the girl and described it as a "very wicked act." Mr. Appiah said the prison authorities should be notified of the HIV status of the accused.