A 26-year-old church drummer, Nathaniel Ayiku has been jailed 15 years for having sex with a six-year-old girl at a church office at Laterbiokoshie, a suburb of Accra.
When he appeared before court he pleaded not guilty to defilement.
The court presided over by Christina Cann, however, found him guilty at the end of the trial and sentenced him accordingly.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Agnes Boafo narrated that the complainant was an usher at the church (name withheld) at Laterbiokoshie and a mother of the victim, whiles the accused, now convict, was a drummer of the same church.
DSP Boafo said Ayiku had permission from the church to be sleeping at the auditorium.
The prosecution said on October 30, last year, a wedding ceremony was held at the church and after the ceremony, Ayiku went to sit in one of the offices at the church premises.
It said whiles Ayiku was in the office, the victim accidentally entered the office in search of rubber bands to play with.
The prosecution said when the victim bent down to pick a rubber band, the convict realized that she was not wearing a pant and asked the victim to hold a table while he stood behind and defiled her.
It said on November 20, 2021, the victim complained to the complainant of blood in her urine.
The prosecution said the complainant observed the victim and found her claims to be true and when the victim was asked what had happened to her, she narrated her ordeal.
A report was made to the Police and a medical form was given to the complainant to seek medical care for the victim.
The victim was later arrested and during investigations, he admitted the offence in his caution statement.
Crime Check Foundation’s crime prevention advocacy
Crime Check Foundation (CCF) has introduced programmes including the latest ‘Stay Away From Trouble’ as part of its crime prevention advocacy project.
Through these programmes CCF cautions the general public against acts that could land them in trouble in a bid to curb crime.
The Foundation screens one-on-one interviews with prison inmates bringing to bear acts that landed them into prison and the difficulties they face in custody.
It has also paid the fines of many petty offenders for their release.
