Farmer charged with defilement says he gave victim "chop" money

Asamankese, April 1, GNA - A crowd at the Asamankese Circuit Court was on Wednesday stunned, when Jonathan Agudse, a 28-year-old farmer, charged with defiling a 15-year-old girl admitted the offence and said he had been giving the victim "chop money".

Agudse admitted having sexual relations with the Junior High School student on two occasions, but was caught by his wife on the third occasion before they could have sex.

Police Chief Inspector X. C. Okorey, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Siameh, that both Agudse and the girl lived in the same house at Mankrong near Suhum.

He said in February this year, Agudse lured the girl with GH¢5.00 on two occasions into a friend's room and had sex with her and warned her not to tell anybody about their relationship. The prosecutor said on February 16, at about 2000 hours, Agudse once again invited the girl into the friend's room but luck was not on his side that day.

For, no sooner had the girl entered the room than Agudse pregnant wife burst into the place and challenged them and chased the girl away. The prosecutor said the girl fled the village only to re-surface on March 20 when Agudse was arrested by the police. The police later gave her a medical form to attend hospital.

Agudse in a caution statement to the police admitted having sex with the girl on two occasions and was convicted on his own plea of guilty, but sentenced deferred to April 6.

When the court asked Agudse if he had anything to say before his sentence, he replied that after his love proposal was accepted by the girl, he always gave her "chop money". Mr Siameh then asked the prosecution to provide proof of the girl's age before pronouncing sentence on April 6.