You are here: HomeNews2007 09 13Article 130608

Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 13 September 2007

Source: GNA

Farmer remanded for defiling three-year-Old girl

Ho, Sept. 13 GNA- A circuit court at Ho on Wednesday remanded John Adiveh, a 33-year-old farmer of Awudome Avenui near Anyirawase in the Ho Municipality, for defiling a three-year-old girl.

Adiveh, who pleaded not guilty, will re-appear before the court on September 24, this year.

Inspector Joy Afagbedzi, Volta Regional Police Public Relations Officer told GNA that the victim lived with her grandmother, who is also a farmer at Avenui together with two other siblings. He said on August 2, this year, the victim's grandmother left the children in the care of an aunt and travelled for a funeral at Awudome Tsibu.

Inspector Afagbedzi said the accused, who lived in the same area as the victim, at midnight on August 3 sneaked into the room of the children and attempted to have sex with the eldest of the three sisters, who was eight years.

According the police officer, when the accused did not succeed in his plan because he could not remove the jeans trousers the girl was wearing, he defiled her three-year-old sister. He said the victim's aunt, who was sleeping next-door, heard her cry and went to the girls room find out what was happening. Inspector Afagbedzi said the woman found the accused hiding behind the door and she raised the alarm and he was arrested by neighbours and handed over to the police.

The police officer said semen was found on the victim's thighs and blood was oozing from her genital organ. Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), on her view on the spate of defilements in the country.

She lamented the immense human rights violation of the country's children, especially girls by some unscrupulous citizens. ASP Narh advised parents to take proper care of their children, refrain from sending their children during odd times and report defilement and rape cases to the Unit. She cautioned that family heads and traditional rulers who would meddle in defilement and rape cases or any cases of human rights abuses on children would be ruthlessly dealt with.