Tribunal orders screening of men who commit defilement

Accra, Sept. 20, GNA - A Circuit Tribunal in Accra on Monday ordered the Police to have any suspect arrested for defilement to be screened and tested for HIV/STD before he is prosecuted before a court of law.

The tribunal, chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Anderson-Yebuah, made the order when a 19-year-old driver's mate, Charles Lamptey, was put before it on a charge of defiling an 11-year-old girl at Bukom.

The tribunal expressed concern about cases of rape and defilement, which are on the increase in the country and said the screening should form part of Police investigations and results included on medical reports issued on the victims.

Lamptey pleaded not guilty and was remanded till October 10, for Police to complete its investigations. Police Inspector Alex Yartey Tawiah said at about 19:00 hours on September six the accused, who lives at Bukom with the victim, lured her into his room and forcibly had sex with her.

The parents discovered an abnormality in the way their daughter walked and when she was questioned she said Lamptey forcibly had carnal knowledge of her.

At the same tribunal Kwame Agyemang, 25, a truck pusher, was jailed 12 years for defiling a 13-year-old girl at the beach on September 14.

He pleaded guilty. The prosecutor said a Policeman in mufti saw the accused having sex with the victim at a place near the old Passport Office near the beach.

When questioned, the accused said he had had sex with the victim on three occasions and sometimes bought her toffee and ladies pants. Kwadwo Ntiamoah, 69, a driver, was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling two sisters, aged eight and 12 at Bubuashie on September nine.

He pleaded guilty. The prosecutor said the accused lured the two sisters into his room under the pretext of sending them to buy food for him and forcibly had sex with them.