The prosecution said that on June 12, 2023, the victim's grandmother noticed behavioural changes in the girl and questioned her

Mason before court for allegedly defiling girl, 9

Alberto Mario Noretti, HO Life Aug - 15 - 2023 , 17:50

Martin Kuenyehia, a 45-year-old mason from Shia in the Ho Municipality, has been accused of allegedly luring a nine-year-old girl into a bathroom on two separate occasions to engage in sexual acts with her, and then offering her GH₵1.00 to maintain secrecy. These allegations were presented before the Ho Circuit Court.

Kuenyehia, who did not have legal representation, pleaded not guilty to charges of defilement during his appearance before the court presided over by Felix Datsomor on August 3, 2023. The accused has been remanded in prison custody and is scheduled to appear before the court again on August 18, 2023, for further proceedings.

Presenting the facts of the case, Sergeant Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan said that in May this year, the accused chanced upon the young girl near her residence one evening and called her. When the girl approached, Kuenyehia instructed her to wait for him in a nearby bathroom.

Assault

“Subsequently, when the accused believed he was not being observed, he followed the girl into the bathroom. There, he removed her pants and coerced her into a supine position before engaging in sexual intercourse with her. After the act, Kuenyehia gave the victim GH₵1.00,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor said on another occasion, Kuenyehia again lured the girl into the same bathroom during the evening, repeated the sexual assault and offered her GH₵1.00 afterwards.

Discovery

The prosecution said that on June 12, 2023, the victim's grandmother noticed behavioural changes in the girl and questioned her. The girl then disclosed the traumatic experiences she had endured at the hands of Kuenyehia. The girl's grandmother informed another family member, who subsequently confronted the accused.

Initially, the accused denied the allegations but later gave GH₵20.00 to the family to purchase medicines for the girl. Following this, a complaint was lodged with the nearby Tokokoe Police. Kuenyehia was arrested and charged with the offence after a medical examination was conducted on the girl at the Ho Teaching Hospital.