Pleaded Guilty

A 32-year-old tiler, Stephen Otu, was sentenced to 22 years in prison with hard labor by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for defiling and impregnating a 12-year-old girl. Otu, who is commonly known as Atta, pleaded guilty to the charges and requested leniency from the court. However, presiding Judge Hathia Ama Manu emphasized the need for a strong deterrent against such offenses. According to Chief Inspector of Police Abraham Ayitey, the victim’s father, a 38-year-old Pragia rider, reported the incident. Both the victim and Otu lived in the same neighborhood in Wassa Akropong, located in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality. The prosecution detailed that approximately two months prior, Otu approached the victim, inquiring about her age. After learning she was 12, he lured her into his residence, where he sexually assaulted her. Following the assault, he gave her GH¢20 and warned her not to tell her parents. The court was informed that Otu had sexual intercourse with the victim on three separate occasions. On November 24, 2024, the victim’s mother discovered her daughter was pregnant and, upon questioning, the girl identified Otu as the perpetrator. A report was subsequently filed with the police, and the victim was taken to a hospital for examination. Medical records confirmed she was two months pregnant. Otu was arrested and detained to assist with the investigation. Erica Apeatua Addo- GNA

The Gender-Based Violence Court has sentenced a 28-year-old houseboy to seven years imprisonment for having sex with his employer’s 12-year-old daughter. Augustine Owusu was charged with defilement. He has pleaded guilty. The court presided over by Dora Inkumsah Eshun convicted Owusu on his on plea and sentenced him accordingly. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, said the complainant is a businessman who lives in Tabora, Accra, with the victim, a Junior High School pupil. The prosecution said Owusu is the complainant’s houseboy who resides in the same house as the plaintiff. It said Owusu’s main work in the complainant’s house was to take care of the victim’s grandfather. Owusu and the victim’s grandfather stayed in the same room in the house. According to the prosecution, during the day, the victim’s grandfather often sat under a tree in the house while Owusu remained in the room. Between June and November 2023, the victim frequently went to her grandfather’s room after school to check on Owusu but did not meet him sometimes. The prosecution said on one occasion, the victim’s grandfather saw her running out of his room when he (grandfather) was entering. This made the grandfather suspicious, and he informed the victim’s mother who warned Owusu to stay away from her. The prosecution said the victim’s mother “set spies” on Owusu after he warned him to stay aware from her. On March 9, 2024, at about 0900 hours, Owusu was seen carrying the victim on a bike. When the victim’s mother was informed, she caused his arrest the next day. During interrogation, it was discovered that Owusu had had sex with the victim on two occasions. GNA