Pensioner remanded for impregnating victim aged 15

Accra, March 15, GNA - Thomas Nii Committey Coffie, a 63-year-old pensioner, who is accused of impregnating his girlfriend's 15-year-old daughter, on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. Coffie has pleaded not guilty to defilement and remanded into Police custody to reappear on March 22. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah, prosecuting said the complainant was a trader residing at James Town in Accra and the victim, a pupil lives at Kokrobite as well as the accused.

The prosecutor said the relationship between accused and complainant broke down and as a result the complainant left Kokrobite to James Town leaving the victim behind. ASP Acquah said in July 2010, the accused started defiling the victim until she became pregnant and gave birth in the seventh month. The complainant on hearing that the victim had delivered reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and accused was arrested.

The prosecutor said when accused was interrogated he admitted the offe= nce.

In another development, the court sentenced a 45-year-old security man, Kwadwo Awudu to eight years imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old girl.

He pleaded not guilty to defilement but the court after the trial found him guilty and convicted him. Police Inspector I.A.A. Ahor prosecuting said the complainant was a trader, who lives at Maamobi whiles the victim is a school drop-out staying with the complainant, her aunt. The accused also lives in the same house with them.

According to the prosecutor, the victim usually takes her bath late in the evening and the accused took advantage of that situation and defiled her on three occasions. Sometime in December 2010, the victim was taking her bath and left the door to the bathroom ajar, the accused, who had gone to urinate, saw the victim and went and held her tight, covered her mouth and defiled her.

After the act, the accused gave the victim 50 pesewas and told her not to tell anyone.

The victim continuously developed abdominal pains and could not walk well, therefore when the complainant quizzed her she refused to disclose her ordeal but rather informed the complainant's son. A report was lodged with the Police and accused was arrested while the Police issued a medical form to the victim for examination and treatment. 15 March 11