A 46-year-old trader who defiled a 10-year-old girl at Danfa in Accra has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the Gender Based Violence Court in Accra.

Daniel Opoku Larbi, charged with defilement, pleaded not guilty.

However, the Court presided over by Dora Eshun, at the end of the trial found Larbi guilty of the charge.

The Court also ordered the convict to pay compensation of GH¢5,400 to the victim.

Additionally, Larbi was also to pay for the victim’s medical bills as soon as the bills were made available to the Court.

Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei told the Court that the complainant, aged 33, was a hairdresser apprentice residing at Abeka, Accra.

Chief Inspector Aniagyei said the victim was a pupil and the daughter of the complainant.

Prosecution said the accused, now a convict, lived at Danfa, Accra, with the family.

The Court heard that about a year ago, the victim’s paternal grandmother took her to stay with her at Danfa.

Prosecution said Larbi was a brother-in-law to the victim’s grandmother, and they all lived in the same house.

On May 15, 2022, the victim’s grandmother and Larbi brought the victim to the complainant and complained that the victim was being stubborn, and they could no longer stay with her.

The Prosecution said on the same day, after they had left, the victim started scratching her vagina and told the complainant that her vagina was itching her and that she was also experiencing pains in her vagina.

The complainant quizzed the victim, but she did not say anything.

Chief Inspector Aniagyei said on May 17, 2022, the complainant observed that anytime the victim slept, “she had to open her laps, and this went on several days.”

Prosecution said the complainant suspected that “someone might have done something wrong to her.”

Chief Inspector Aniagyei said the complainant therefore informed her mistress about what she had observed about the victim.

The Court heard that the complainant and mistress sat the victim down and quizzed her thoroughly and she revealed to them that Larbi had sex with her.

Prosecution said the victim disclosed that Larbi had sex with her on five occasions, adding the last sexual intercourse Larbi had with her was on May 13, 2022, in the night.

According to prosecution, the victim disclosed that during the first sexual encounter, blood oozed from her vagina and Larbi asked her to use her pants to clean it and he collected the pant.

Prosecution said the complainant on hearing that lodged complaint with the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police service in Accra.

Chief Inspector Aniagyei said the Police sent the victim to the hospital where she examined, treated and a report was submitted on her.

Larbi was later arrested, the Prosecution said.