Man, 56, jailed 10 years for defilement

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 Aug. ’99

Alex Baffoe, a driver aged 56, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in hard labour by a circuit tribunal in Accra for defiling a 16-year-old girl.

Baffoe, who operates at the Pig Farm "trotro" station in Accra, pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement.

Mrs Elizabeth Anderson Yeboah, the tribunal chairman, before passing sentence, noted that rape and defilement cases have been on the increase and expressed concern about the physical harm they were causing the victims.

She said the maximum sentence imposed on Baffoe would deter men of his character from committing such serious crimes on innocent young girls.

The tribunal heard that at about noon on July 19, the accused bought 100 cedis worth of water from the victim, who was selling iced water at the station.

The accused asked her to come later for the money. When the girl went back to him at about 1800 hours, he asked her to follow him to his house to collect the money.

The girl initially refused to follow him but reluctantly accompanied the accused person, who forced her into a nearby kiosk and forcibly had sex with her.

The prosecution said Baffoe did not allow the victim to go home that day but kept her in the kiosk until 0530 hours the following day. Even then, he did not pay for the water he bought the previous day.

The victim went home and reported the matter to her parents after which the accused was arrested.

At the same court nine persons, who were charged with possessing narcotic drugs were committed to stand trial at a Regional Tribunal0 in Accra.

The tribunal said by the nature of the offence, the accused persons, in law should be tried by a higher court because it has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

They were, therefore, remanded in custody until the case would be listed for hearing.

GRi../