A 22-year-old trader who defiled a minor at Alajo in the Greater Accra Region has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court.
Kwesi Botchwey was hauled before the court for defiling the victim who was 15 years old at the time of the sexual assault.
According to the prosecution, on 8th August, 2017, at about 10:30 pm, the victim was on her way to her grandmother’s house at Accra Newtown when the convict met her and proposed love to her. She accepted his proposal.
Kwesi Botchwey is said to have taken the victim home where he had sexual intercourse with her and later picked a taxi for her to return home that same night.
The victim is said to have narrated her ‘ordeal’ to her mother when she got home and was queried about where she was coming from.
He is said to have admitted the offence in his police caution statement upon his arrest. However, he pleaded not guilty to a charge of defiling a child under the age of 16 and had to go through a full trial.
The prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agnes Boafo was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the convict actually committed the crime for which reason he was put before court.
The court presided over by Her Honour Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku after the trial found Kwesi Botchwey guilty of the offence and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment in hard labour.
Porter Jailed 7 Years
In a related development, a porter, Shamsu Sallay, who defiled a 13-year-old minor at Mamobi in the Greater Accra Region, has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by the same court.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of defiling a child under the age of 16 and was convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Adjin-Doku.
His victim is said to have gone to her friend’s house in June 2017 where Sallay met her and lured her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her. He gave her GH¢5.00 after the intercourse.
According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire, the convict repeated the action on 27th July, 2017. The victim’s mother saw signs of sexual assault on her and upon interrogation, the victim confirmed it.
Subsequently, Sally was arrested after the matter was reported at the Mamobi Police Station.
Appearing before the court, he confessed having sexual intercourse with the victim in June 2017 but wondered why he was now being brought to court so many months after the incident.
Her Honour Mrs. Adjin-Doku in sentencing the convict took into consideration the fact that he readily pleaded guilty without wasting time.
Therefore, she gave him the minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment in hard labour.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak