The Circuit Court at Kwabenya in the Greater Accra region has sentenced a 58-year-old mason to 10 years’ imprisonment for having sex with his daughter.
Joshua Bledi, pleaded guilty to the charge but appealed to the court to have mercy on him.
Bledi got his 17-year-old daughter pregnant, who has delivered a baby who is now seven months old.
The court convicted Bledi on his plea and imposed a 10 year custodial sentence on him, after considering his age, premeditation of the act and the fact that he did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the offence.
The Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Gershon Togbe Achondo, in his aggravating prayer to tue court said, that the practice was becoming too many in recent times.
Chief Inspector Achondo, therefore, prayed the court to hand down a harsh sentence to serve as a deterrent to other like-minded persons, as the offence was a cultural abomination.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts of the case, by the Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Achondo, the complainant was a social welfare worker at the Ga East Hospital.
While the Victim, (name withheld) age 17 years is a Hair Dresser apprentice and a mother to a seven months old child.
It said, the Accused Joshua Bledi, (now convict), age 58 years is a mason and also the biological father of the victim.
It said, Investigations revealed that victim went to the said health facility to deliver and had problems paying her bills.
The Prosecutor said, the Social Welfare Department at the hospital intervened and her bills were waved.
It said, enquiries were made into who was responsible for her pregnancy and she disclosed to the complainant that, accused person was the one responsible and further stated that accused had been having countless sexual intercourse with her since her mother brought her to live with him.
A complaint was therefore lodged with the Kwabenya DOVVSU while a Police medical report form was issued for victim medical examination.
The victim was medically examined. Later the accused was arrested. After investigation, he was charged with the offence before this honourable court.
Prosecution said Bledi was the father of the victim and a resident of Musuku, Kwabenya in Accra.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh

