Court jails painter for 12 years for defilement

Cape Coast, May 27, GNA - A circuit court at Cape Coast on Friday sentenced a 26-year-old painter to 12 years' imprisonment in hard labour after finding him guilty of defiling a nine-year-old girl. Thomas Asante pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Passing sentence, the judge, Mr Mustapha Logoh, held that the prosecution adduced enough evidence to prove their case. The court heard that Asante, who hails from Obuasi, was contracted in November last year by one Mr Owusu to paint his new house, located in the neighbourhood of the girl's parents at Assin Fosu. While working on the job, Asante became the girl's family and occasionally sent her on errands, the prosecution said. It said one day, Asante sent the girl to fetch water and put it in his bathroom.

Asante then followed her to the bathroom and sexually abused her after which he threatened to "beat the hell out of her" if she reported him to anyone.

The court heard that the girl's stepmother later noticed a change in her walk and when questioned, she told her what Asante had done to her.

Upon a further examination, the stepmother found that the girl was bleeding from her genitals so she lodged a report to the police.