Man, 48, jailed 20 years for defiling his nine- year-old niece

A 48-year-old taxi driver, Kofi Sekyi
who defiled his nine year old niece
at Ashaiman Jericho has on thursday
been sentenced to 20 years
imprisonment by the Ashaiman
Circuit Court.

Kofi Sekyi alias Samuel Inkoom who
gave “Kalypo” fruit juice to the victim
to appease her after defiling her, was
also asked to pay GH¢10,000 as
compensation to the victim.
The victim (name withheld) until the
incident, had been living with her
uncle at Ashaiman Jericho. Her uncle
had taken charge of her as his
(accused) younger brother (victim’s
father) had gone blind.

The nine-year-old has undergone
vagina surgery at the Korle-Bu
Teaching Hospital and is currently
undergoing psychotherapy at the
Child Health Department of the same
hospital although Doctors say the
child is not able to come for regular
lessons due to lack of financial
support.

The accused had pleaded not guilty
since the trial begun on November
20, 2014, although he had initially
confessed to the crime in his
statement when he was arrested.
Giving the judgment, Presiding
Judge, Lydia Osei-Marfo found the
accused guilty of the charge. She
explained that the accused was in a
position of trust yet breached that
trust the family and victim had in him
by his unpardonable act.

Aside considering the age difference,
Mrs. Lydia Osei-Marfo described the
offense as incest as per the Akan
tradition.
She hinted that though the accused
had pleaded not guilty, his earlier
confessions made when arrested
hold, as he failed to prove beyond all
reasonable doubts that he was not
guilty of the crime.
“I reject your denial as your defense
carries no weight,” she said.
Mrs. Lydia Osei-Marfo reproached
him for making the court go through
a lengthy trial when he had no
substantial evidence to prove he was
not guilty of the defilement charge.
Kofi Sekyi begged the Judge to
reduce the sentence as he had
received news that his wife had
delivered their first child (baby girl)
but the Judge turned deaf ears to his
plea and directed him to go for an
appeal if he was not satisfied with
the judgment.

Mother of victim, Joyce Ofosuwaa in
an interview with Atinka FM’s Regina
Asamoah appeared satisfied with the
judgment but was quiet doubtful if
the accused Kofi Sekyi could pay the
GH¢10,000 compensation fee .