Court acquits driver over defilement and incest charges

A 47-year-old driver, Edem Fideluy, who was accused in 2009 of impregnating his daughter, has been acquitted and discharged by an Accra Circuit Court.

Justice Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye in her judgment said she found Fideluy not guilty of the charges of defilement and incest.

According to the court, prosecution had not produced cogent evidence to reach a decision on the counts charged.

The case of prosecution was that the complainant was a 17-year-old Junior High Student drop out at Adenta.

The accused was the father of the complainant and the two reside in the same house at Adenta.

Prosecution said the complainant was abandoned by her mother in her father’s custody at the age of seven months.

According to prosecution, at the age of 12, the complainant alleged that her father started having sex with her and she became pregnant and gave birth at the age of 16.

After delivery, the prosecutor said the accused took her to the hospital for family planning where she was administered with Norplant contraceptives which would last for five years.

The accused person started giving her a local alcoholic beverage known as Kasapreko, mixed with honey to drink. The victim felt drowsy after drinking it and the accused allegedly had sex with her three times in a week.

The prosecution said when the complainant could no longer bear the pain, she ran away from home to stay with one Alex Nyarko, a witness in the matter, for four days.

The accused person, however, led the Police to the house of Nyarko on August 11, 2014 where he was arrested for abduction.

During investigations, the complainant narrated her ordeal to the Police and the accused was subsequently arrested. In his caution statement, the accused admitted the offence.