A four-year-old girl is battling serious reproductive health complications after she was allegedly defiled eight times by a 14-year-old Junior High School pupil in Suhum in the Eastern Region.
According to the victim’s family, the abuse began when the child was about three-and-a-half years old.
The alleged incidents reportedly occurred in various locations within their compound house, including the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
The child initially complained to her mother of persistent pain in her private parts.
However, the complaints were reportedly not taken seriously until they became frequent, especially whenever the mother attempted to wash her.
Upon further questioning, the child mentioned the name of the suspect, a 14-year-old boy identified as Addo, who resides in the same compound house.
When confronted, the suspect allegedly admitted to sexually abusing the child eight times.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, who issued medical forms for examination.
A medical report from the Suhum Government Hospital, endorsed by Dr. Nancy De-Graft Menz, indicated:
“On pelvic examination, there were minor abrasions on the outer labia. The hymen was not intact, with the presence of foul-smelling whitish discharge on the vulva. The perineum looked normal. There was also mild tenderness on the vulva. All other systemic examinations were normal.”
Following confirmation of the medical findings, the suspect was arrested and interrogated, where he allegedly admitted to the offence.
The investigator Promise Sly-Edem Kemeh
took the accused to his parents kitchen where he allegedly committed where he demonstrated how he defiled the victim on a kitchen stool.
He was arraigned before Suhum Magisgrate court and was granted bail.
Father of the accused, a Catechist deployed many respected individuals in Suhum community including chiefs, officers from the Education Directorate to plead for withdrawal of the case from court for amicable settlement at home
However, the parents of the victim declined the plea.
The Suhum Police Commander and the investigator from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit all turned down similar plea for out of court settlement insisting it is criminal case which cannot be settled in the home.
Parents of the accused subsequently hired services of a Lawyer who changed the guilty plea of the victim to not guilty when the case was called again in court.
Since the intervention of the lawyer, the case has suffered multiple adjournments as the lawyer deploys technicalities and excuses to stall the process.
The court case has stalled whiles the victim continue to battles infections and complication at the genitals .
On Sunday, February 23, the victim was sent to the Eastern regional hospital for another treatment of her complications.
The parents are demanding for swift justice for their daugher.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
