Michael Koomson, a 29-year old carpenter, who allegedly raped a 17-year old Junior High School (JHS) at Baafikrom told a packed Circuit Court in Cape Coast, on Monday, that the victim was his girlfriend. Consequently, he said, the act did not constitute rape. He, therefore, pleaded not guilty to rape and the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Asare Nyarko remanded him in prison custody to be re-arraigned on Thursday, May 19. Prosecuting, Sergeant Charles Effah said the girl and the accused person lived in the same vicinity at Baafikrom near Mankessim, and that on Thursday, May 12, at about 0800hrs, the victim was dressing up after taking her bath when Koomson unexpectedly entered her room, gagged her with his hands and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her. She screamed for help but to no avail. Sergeant Effah said the accused had earlier been called by the girl's mother to carry out some carpentry works in their house when he chanced upon the victim. Immediately after the act, the prosecutor said, the victim narrated the ordeal to her mother who made a report at the Mankessim Police Station where she was issued a medical form for the girl to go to the hospital. The prosecutor said Koomson was arrested that same day and admitted the offence in his caution statement to the Police.Source: GNA