Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced an 18-year-old driver's mate to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour, for defiling a 15 year old girl. Odartey Lamptey, the driver's mate, lured the teenager, who had returned late in the night from Nima, to believe that there were armed robbers around where she alighted from mini-bus and, therefore, succeeded in sending her into his room.

Mr Idrisu Mohamadu, the trial judge, explained to Lamptey, who pleaded guilty to defilement, that the offence was punishable up to a maximum of 25 years' imprisonment and a minimum of seven years. The Judge convicted Lamptey on his own plea and said he had taken note of his age and was, therefore, sentencing him to the minimum of seven years' imprisonment with hard labour. When Mr Mohamadu asked if the parents of the victim were in court, the Investigator in the case said the parents had sent her to the hospital.

The Judge advised that it was proper that sometimes Investigators sent complainants to court, so as to follow proceedings. He stated: "I don't know why a 15-year-old girl should be left to go out in the deep night."

He said even if robbers were around, it was safer for her to have gone home rather than entering into someone's room.

Presenting the facts of the case, Police Chief Inspector Benjamin Y. Dadzie said the father of the victim, Mr Emmanuel Quarshie reported to the Police that her daughter, who had left their Labawaleshie residence for Nima could not be traced.

He said after a long search the daughter was traced to the room of the convict.