The Ghana Police Service has interdicted the officer who allegedly defiled and impregnated a 12-year-old girl.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service ASP Afia Tenge says the officer will not be shielded.

She said “when the conduct of the police was reported, he was interdicted right away”.

Lance Corporal Emmanuel Bartels is said to have impregnated the girl seven months ago after he had slept with her three times in her father’s house where he was a tenant.

The victim told Joy News that the officer forced himself on her anytime her father left the house.

She said she did not inform her father about the issue due to the fear of being beaten.

There is however some confusion about the right age of the victim.

Although the father of the victim says she is 12-years-old, a medical assessment shows that she may be 17.

ASP Tenge says the controversy over the age of the victim will be referred to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.

“Now the issue here is the father of the victim says she is 12 years but a medical examination shows that she is 17.

“We believe that this issue of controversy over the age of the victim has to be sent to the Attorney General’s office for advice”, she added.

The family of the victim has questioned the police’s readiness to pursue the case and punish the officer but ASP Tenge says “the police will not get anything in trying to shield one of our own, if it has to do with the abuse of child.

“We ourselves have paraded officers of the service who have misconducted themselves in one way or the other. So if this case has come to our attention, what is the need for us in shielding the officer”, she quizzed.

She acknowledged the concerns of the family but pleaded with them to be patient adding that “we will seek justice for the victim if it turns out that the she was defiled”.