Farmer jailed 15 years for defilement

Tarkwa (W/R), Aug 16, GNA - A 21-year old farmer, Kwaku Addae of Nyame Bekyere village near Asankrangwa, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour, by a Tarkwa Circuit Court for defiling a 14 year-old Junior High School girl. He was sentenced on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Inspector Florence Tawiah of Tarkwa Police station, told the court that the victim was sent alone to collect foodstuffs from a farm a few months ago. Inspector Tawiah said unknown to victim, the accused person was hiding in the farm and pounced on her, and dragged her into a nearby bush, where he forcibly had sexual intercourse with her. She said the victim struggled with the accused amidst shouting for help but there was nobody there to rescue her. Inspector Tawiah said after the act the accused person warned the victim not to reveal her ordeal to anyone else he would curse her to die. The prosecutor said for fear of death, the victim did not tell anyone even though she was bleeding after the act. Inspector Tawiah said on August 4 this year in the morning, the victim's uncle, Kwadwo Antobam, asked the victim to assist him harvest maize from his farm at Subreso village but found out that the victim was inactive and sick. Inspector Tawiah said the victim was sent to the hospital, where she was diagnosed as being 12 weeks pregnant and it was there that she revealed the ordeal she had gone through some months back. She said a report was made to the police and Addai was arrested. Addai who pleaded guilty in court with explanation, said the girl has been his girlfriend for a long time. He was however not spared but sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour. 16 Aug 08