A Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced a 38-year-old carpenter to 12 years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a 13-year old girl.

Abubakari Sadiq pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Police Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei, told the Court, presided over by Mr Justice Emmanuel Amoh-Yartey that, the victim's father is a farmer at Abonsuaso near Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North district.

The girl is staying with her aunt at Adoato in Kumasi and has been selling chilled sachet water at the Race Course, where Sadiq plies his trade.

Some time in April at about 1400 hours, the convict bought two sachets of water from the victim and asked her to come back later for her money with the excuse that he was busy at that time.

The girl fell for the bait as Sadiq took advantage of the quietness of the place and sexually assaulted her when she went to collect the money.

Sadiq sent the victim empty handed after convincing her that he would pay double the amount owed the next day.

Chief Inspector Baffour-Kyei said the second time she went, he again sexually abused her and warned her not tell anyone about her ordeal.

The victim fell ill some few days later and was taken to the hospital by her elder sister where it was detected that she had been defiled.

She mentioned Sadiq as the offender and he was arrested.

Source: GNA