50-yr-old man defiles own 12-year-old niece

Daniel Tettey Ashitey pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge of defiling a child less than 16 years and was sentenced on his own plea by the court, presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.

His explanation, however, threw the court into a state of laughter when he admitted that he indeed defiled his niece, but he committed the act on December 15, 2017 and not December 13 as stated by the prosecution.

He also denied claims by the prosecution that he covered the mouth of the victim when he dragged her to his room to have sex with her.

When asked by the presiding judge why he defiled his niece, Ashitey said it was the work of the devil, explaining that the devil took control over him.

Ashitey seemed not to be taking the court proceedings serious as he kept giggling while he spoke and also as he answered questions from the judge.

Even when the judge asked him if he had anything to say before she passed sentence,Ashitey said no still giggling.

Sentence

In passing sentence, Mrs Adjin-Doku said she took into consideration Ashitey’s age and the victim’s. She also considered his relationship with the victim and the fact that he did not show any remorse.

“You were even laughing when you were asked if you had something to say,’’ she said.

Incident

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agnes Boafo, said the 12-yearold girl and Ashitey resided in a family house. On December 13, 2017, she said, the girl was returning from the call of nature when she met Ashitey.

“Ashitey covered the mouth of the girl with a handkerchief, dragged her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her,’’the prosecutor said.

The girl, ASP Boafo said, informed her grandmother about the act who also informed the elder sister of the girl.

The elder sister after hearing about the incident reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.