Friends go to prison for defilement

Tarkwa (W/R), March. 01, GNA - Two farm labourers who conspired and defiled a 15 year-old apprentice hairdresser were on Wednesday sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour by a Tarkwa circuit court. The two accused persons, Boyaah Dagarti, 27 and Beque Dakolo, 24 years wept bitterly when the presiding judge, Mr. Henry Kwofie passed the sentence.

Giving the facts of the case, Police Superintendent Slim Manford told the court that the victim lives with her parents at Omanpe Abochia, a farming community near Enchi and the accused persons also live in the same village.

Supt. Manford said on November 13, last year, the victim went to sell tomatoes in the nearby villages and was returning to the house when she saw the two accused persons sitting under a mango tree along the path to the village.

The prosecutor added that when the victim by-passed the accused, they trailed her until they reached a nearby cocoa farm close to the village. Both of them then proposed love to her to which she refused. He said the two friends then conspired and attacked her and forcibly carried her into a nearby bush, tore her underwear, pinned her down for Boyaah, the first accused, to have sex with her twice whilst the second accused Dakolo held her throat and pinned her to the ground. The second accused Dakolo also took his turn and had sex with her once whilst Boyaah also held her throat and pinned her to the ground. The prosecutor added that after the act, the two friends gave her 5,000 cedis and warned her not to disclose what has happened to anybody otherwise they would kill her.

He said the victim became unconscious while narrating the ordeal to her parents at home. She was rushed to the Enchi Government Hospital for treatment and it was confirmed that she has been defiled and the accused persons were arrested.