RUN-AWAY FARMER JAILED FOR DEFILEMENT (PAGE 20, MIRROR, AUGUST 7, 2010)

From Samuel Duodu, Sunyani

A 27-year-old farmer who went into hiding after defiling a co-tenant’s 13-year-old daughter at Yamfo in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region on May 21, 2010 has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Agyemang Prempeh, who was arrested at his hide-out at Yamfo on July 12, 2010 pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently sentenced by the Fiapre Circuit Court in the Sunyani West District presided over by Mr Justice Benjamin Yaw Osei.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Amoako, who is also the Regional Co-Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), told the court that the convict lived in the same house with the victim and her parents.
He said on May 21, 2010, the parents of the victim travelled and about 7.30 p.m. the same day, while the victim was taking her bath, the convict, who saw that there was nobody in the house entered the bathroom and forcibly had sex with her.
DSP Amoako said while in the act, the victim, who could not withstand the pain screamed which drew the attention of a witness and the accused bolted.
He stated that on May 22, 2010, the victim was seen walking abnormally and when she was questioned by her parents, she revealed her ordeal to them.
He said the convict, who was immediately confronted, admitted the offence and later sent a delegation to the victim’s parents to plead on his behalf, but a report was made to the Yamfo Police on June 29, 2010 and the vitim was issued with a medical form for examination at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani.
DSP Amoako told the court that on June 6, 2010, the case was referred to DOVVSU for further investigations and on that same day, the victim returned with the endorsed medical form which indicated that “hymen broken”.
He said the accused, who went into hiding, was arrested on July 12, 2010 for investigation and in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness admitted the offence and also stated having informed his parents to go and plead on his behalf.