Farmer gets 25 years for defilement

Techiman (B/A) March 21, GNA - Kwame Takyi, a 22-year-old farmer at Abease, near Prang in the Atebubu district has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in-hard-labour by a circuit court at Techiman for defiling a three year old child.

Takyi pleaded guilty to the charge of carnally knowing the three-year-old child on a wooden bench.

The case, which was first heard at the Atebubu magistrate's court, was referred to the circuit court for a severe sentence.

Presenting the facts of the case, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. P.K. Ayigla told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Erasmus Gyinae that at about 1900 hours on February 5 this year a prospective witness saw Takyi lying flat on the wooden bench with the child.

DSP Ayigla said the witness quickly informed the child's mother and when she rushed to the scene the accused bolted.

DSP Ayilga said the mother upon examining the daughter observed that there was semen in her private part as well as on the bench. He said the mother informed her husband and they rushed the child to the hospital at Prang but was referred to the government hospital at Atebubu and was treated and discharged.

Takyi was arrested at another village and upon interrogation admitted committing the offence, which was confirmed by a medical report.

Sentencing the accused, Mr. Justice Gyinae described Takyi as a wicked person who must not be spared, as he did not consider the age of the victim.

He expressed the hope that the 25 years sentence would serve as a deterrent to like-minded persons, "who resort to venting their sexual misconduct on children under 15 years of age".