A Gender-Based Violence Court has sentenced Dennis Darf, a 30-year-old mason, to eight years in prison for defiling a minor. Darf, who was charged with defilement, pleaded guilty to the offence.

The Court, presided over by Judge Dora Eshun, convicted, and sentenced him based on his guilty plea.

The Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, presented evidence that the complainant in the case is the father of the victim, a girl aged between 12 and 14 years old.

The incident occurred in Danchira in the Greater Accra Region, where both the accused, the victim, and her father reside in the same neighborhood.

Chief Inspector Aniagyei stated that the complainant’s wife runs a provision store in front of their house, and occasionally, the victim managed the shop when her mother was not present.

The prosecution mentioned that Darf is a customer of the victim’s mother and regularly bought items from the victim.   As a result, Darf and the victim became friends, and he would visit the shop to chat with her when her mother was not around.

In June 2024, at about 2000 hours, Darf went to the stand in front of the complainant’s main gate and saw the victim bathing in an uncompleted building and had sexual intercourse with her.

The prosecution stated that after the act, Darf threatened to kill the victim if she informed her parents.   Consequently, the victim did not inform her parents.

The court was informed that in July 2024, the victim’s mother took her to their hometown, Sunyani Nkoransa, to perform some rituals for her.

The prosecution said the priest who was about to perform the ritual told her mother that the victim had been defiled, and therefore, could not carry out the said rites.

The woman then questioned the victim, who then narrated her ordeal to her.

Chief Inspector Aniagyei said the victim’s mother informed the complainant when they returned from their trip.

On August 9, 2024, the complainant was assisted by friends to arrest Darf and sent him to the Weija Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit.

A medical report was issued to the complainant to send the victim to the hospital for examination and treatment.  The prosecution said the complainant made available the endorsed medical form to the Police.

GNA