Tarkwa circuit court sentenced a 40-year-old auto electrician to 25 years imprisonment in hard labour, for defiling and impregnating his biological daughter.

Although the convict, Joseph Abaidoo, denied the charges since prosecution begun in 2015, the court presided by Mr Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew, found him guilty, and convicted him accordingly.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Juliana Essel-Dadzie, said the victim is an 18-year-old unemployed woman, who stays at Ankobra near Esiama with her mother, who has divorced the convict.

Prosecution said from 2012 to 2013, the victim, the convict and her step mother lived in the same house in Prestea.

DSP Essel-Dadzie said the convict’s wife travelled frequently due to the nature of her work as a trader.

The court heard that Abaidoo took advantage of the wife’s frequent absence, and had sexual intercourse with the victim in his bedroom and some times in his vehicle.

DSP Essel-Dadzie said when the victim realised she was pregnant, she decided to relocate to her mother without the knowledge of the convict.

Prosecution said Abaidoo, however, lodged a complaint of abduction against a teacher of the victim’s school, but the teacher was not arrested.

DSP Essel-Dadzie said Abaidoo found his daughter at Ankobra, and while at Ankobra, the victim informed the convict about her pregnancy in the presence of other relatives.

The prosecution said when Abaidoo returned to Prestea, he sent GH¢450.00 to his ex-wife by mobile money transaction, and pleaded with her to terminate the pregnancy.

DSP Essel-Dadzie said although the victim’s mother received the money, she did not give it to the victim to terminate the pregnancy, which was then four months old.

Prosecution said on April 11, 2013, the victim gave birth prematurely to a baby girl, and Abaidoo sent GH¢500.00 through her maternal uncle for the upkeep of the baby and the mother.

DSP Essel-Dadzie said in 2014, the maternal uncles of the victim invited the convict on countless occasions to enable them to perform rituals as what had transpired between him and his daughter was an abomination, but all proved futile.

Prosecution said in February, 2015 the maternal uncles of the victim reported the matter to the police and Abaidoo was arrested.