School proprietor in court for defilement

A school proprietor who is accused of defiling one of his pupils aged 13 appeared before an Accra Circuit Court , on Wednesday. Moses Soka denied the charge of defilement and has been remanded into police custody by the court presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava.

Soka, whose school’s name is withheld, is expected to reappear on August 6. The court ordered the Police to send the victim to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to ascertain the age of the victim which has become an issue.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah said when the Police requested the guardian of the victim to produce victim’s birth certificate she claimed it could not be found.

ASP Acquah said both the victim and the guardian were giving different dates of birth as such prayed the court for an order to ascertain the age of the victim. She said because it was the family of the victim who brought the accused to the Police station it was not able to get the right age of the victim.

ASP Acqauh said the complainant was the victim’s guardian. The victim is a class five pupil in the accused person’s school at La Tse Addo in Accra. On July 1, a neighbour of the complainant observed some changes in the victim and concluded that the victim was pregnant and informed the complainant.

Prosecution said the complainant, therefore, quizzed the victim who stated that it was the accused who had sex with her anytime she closed from school.

A report was made to the Police and the complainant was issued with medical form for examination and treatment. Prosecution said after the examination it was detected that the victim had been defiled but not pregnant.