A 24-year-old mason, who abducted and defiled a 14-year-old girl, has been sentenced to 16 years impris­onment in hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

Vinyl Francis Blay, who was charged with two counts of abduction and defilement, pleaded guilty.

The court, presided over by Hathia Ama Manu, con­victed Blay on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Chief Superin­tendent of Police Alex Odonkor, said the complainant, elder sister of the victim, and Blay resided at New Atuabo, in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

The court heard that in 2023 the accused happened to be a friend to members of the victim’s family.

Chief Sup. Odonkor said that on February 25, 2023, at about 6.30 pm, the complainant sent the victim to buy camphor in a store opposite their house, but she did not return home.

The prosecution said a search conducted for the victim by the complainant in their neighbour­hood proved futile.

Chief Sup. Odonkor said the complainant reported the case to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Tarkwa on February 26, 2023.

The prosecution said an ex­tract of occurrence was prepared for the complainant, which she took to radio stations in Tarkwa and Kumasi for announcements to be made about the victim’s disappearance, but to no avail.

Chief Insp. Odonkor said the complainant later had a phone call from a woman, who

 introduced herself as Diana, and said she lived at Esiama Kikam, in the Western Region.

The court heard that the call­er informed the complainant that the victim was living with Blay at Kikam and that she had just given birth and was finding it diffi­cult to survive.

Chief Sup. Odonkor said the com­plainant in­formed the DOV­VSU at Tarkwa about the issue, and with the help of police at Esiama, Blay was nabbed, and the victim was rescued together with her two-month-old baby.

The prosecution said during the investigation, the complainant pleaded with the police to let Blay refund the money she spent while searching for the victim and to also take care of the baby.