A 24-year-old tricycle rider,
Musah Alhassan, who has been standing trial for the past four months after he
was accused of defiling a 15-year-old-girl.
The criminal act according to the prosecution
occurred on May 14, this year when the accused person accosted the victim to
his room after the girl was returning home from the market with the mother.
The accused forcibly had sex with the victim and made
her to pass the night in his room.
The victim upon returning home
was quizzed about her whereabouts and where she passed the night and she
pointed to the house of the accused.
The case was reported to the Wa police and the
accused subsequently arrested and put before the Wa circuit court on June, 2.
Having no legal representation, Alhassan admitted
that the victim passed the night in his room but denied having sex with her.
The prosecution led by Superintendent Richard
Adjapong Boateng called four witnesses including a medical officer who
testified that the victim’s hymen was missing meaning it has been broken
showing evidence of penetration.
The process of cross examination was well explained to the
accused person since he has no lawyer and after which he crossed all the
witnesses including the victim.
The accused told the court that the victim consented to his
proposal of making love with her.
The victim, however, denied the allegation saying she was
only asked whether she had a boyfriend to which, she responded in the
affirmative with the notion that she would be allowed to leave the room . but
that answer did not save her.
The Wa Circuit Court presided over by Justice Baah Forson
Adjapong in evaluating the case stated that the prosecution was able to prove
beyond all reasonable doubt that the indeed Alhassan committed the act.
He noted that once the victim was below 16 years, the issue
of whether the victim consented to it or not is immaterial because the law
prohibits having sex with persons who are below 16 years.
Justice Baah Forson Adjapong in sentencing the accused person
said he has taken into consideration the gravity of the offence and the rampant
nature of defilement cases in the Wa community.
In view of that, he has no option but to give a sentence that
will deter others who are secretly engaging or have intention of engaging in
the acts.
The accused was, therefore, sentenced to 10 years in prison
with hard labour.
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