Boy, 15, charged with defilement

A 15-year-old junior high school pupil has been charged with defilement for allegedly having sexual relationship with a 13-year-old female classmate.

The alleged relaionship caused the girl's father to severely beat the boy.

The boy was on Friday, October 25, 2013, arraigned before the magistrate's court at Somanya but the case was called at the presiding magistrate's chamber to be dealt with in camera because he is a juvenile.

The Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo, Mr Kofi Amoatey, a lawyer by profession and a human rights activist, who was on the premises of the court when the case was called, offered to assist to resolve the issue.

However, the court, presided over by Mr Alfred K. A. Mensah, adjourned sitting till November 15 this year to make it possible for other members of the panel, possibly representatives of the Attorney General's Department and the Department of Social Welfare, to be present.

The boy, who had one of his toes and arm plastered and limping, was accompanied by his parents.

At the same court, the father of the girl, the alleged assailant, Mr Thomas Asare, 42, and a businessman, was also charged with assault but granted bail in the sum of GH¢2,500 with one surety to be justified.

His case was also adjourned to November 15.
It would be recalled that on October 19, this year, Asare, who suspected that the 15 year-old JSS pupil had befriended his daughter, waylaid the boy who was coming home after weekend classes with the daughter and subjected him to severe beatings.

He then solicited the assistance of his friend, one Corporal Anyan of the Nuaso Police Station, who was said to have handcuffed the boy and paraded him through some of the streets of Agormanya before throwing him into the Akuse Police cell for almost two days.

He was released by the Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP James Abass Abaa, immediately he got wind of matter.

ACP Abaa also ordered the arrest and prosecution of corporal Asare, who had hitherto been left off the hook.

By A. Kofoya Tetteh/Daily Graphic/Ghana