'Devil' Rapes 18 Yr-Old-Girl

 
From Michael Boateng, Sunyani
'My Lord I am sorry, it was the devil that came over me. I have been practicing as a Pastor for 14 years, but the girl overpowered me with her demonic spirit,' this was the plea of Patrick Asiedu, a 32 year old Head Pastor of the Church of Grace Ministry, Dwaboso branch, at the Sunyani Circuit Court 'A', presided over by Mr. Ekow Mensah.

Despite his confession, and a plea of being overpowered by the devil, the court sentenced Pastor Patrick Asiedu to 18 years in prison on his own plea of defilement.

Prosecuting, Inspector Kofi Aboagye told the court that the complainant, Joyce Adjetey, was a farmer who resides at Nkrankrom, a village near Abesim, and the mother of the victim.

He said on September 5 this year, the complainant invited the accused, Pastor Asiedu, to the village to pray for her daughter (victim) who is 15 years old, and has been experiencing frequent stomachaches.

The Pastor informed the mother of the victim after the prayers that her daughter was being possessed by an evil spirit, and that she needed to be bathed with stream water 7 times before she would be freed.

Pastor Asiedu was given a full bucket of stream water by the complainant, and he mixed some oil with the water and asked the victim to bath seven times. After bathing, the Pastor invited the girl to a room given to him by the victim's mother to render his services.

When the girl entered the room, Pastor Asiedu informed her that he needed her vagina fluid before he could cure the sickness entirely.

The Pastor gave oil to the victim to drink, and also smeared the body of the victim with pomade, and asked her to remove her dress and lie down on a bare floor. When girl obliged, he (Asiedu) removed his trousers, lay on the victim, and had sexual intercourse with her.

Pastor Asiedu warned the victim not to tell anyone or else she would die. The accused left the village early the following morning to Jinijini.

In the morning, the complainant observed changes in the victim's behaviour, and when she was questioned, the victim narrated the ordeal she went through at the hands of the accused during the night.

The complainant reported the case to the Abesim Police, and a medical form was issued to her which was endorsed by a medical doctor that the victim's hymen had been broken.

The accused was traced to Berekum and was arrested. Pastor Asiedu confessed having had sex with the victim during his caution statement, and was charged with defilement.