A Wa Circuit Court has today sentenced one of three police officers who were accused of abducting and defiling a fourteen year old primary six pupil to nine years in prison and in hard labour.

General constable Appiah Donald pleaded guilty to the two charges and was sentenced accordingly.

His other two colleagues General Constable George Tanoe and Corporal Joseph Kwakoh   are to reappear on August 7. The police is on a man-hunt for a fourth suspect said to be at large.

Rafiq Salam sat through the proceedings and reports the four accused persons were arrested following a complaint filed to the Wa police on June 29 by the father of the victim.

The complainant said his fourteen year old primary six pupil went missing from the grandmother’s house for several days.

Prosecutor, DSP Owusu Bempah told the court that the accused persons abducted the victim and kept her for eight days during the repeatedly defiled her.

The first and the second accused persons spent four and three days respectively with the victim and each had unprotected sex with her twice.

The third and fourth accused persons, were alleged to have had a one nightstand with the victim. The second accused person pleaded guilty to the two counts of abduction and defilement whilst the third and fourth accused persons pleaded not guilty.

The Wa Circuit Court Judge, his honour, Isaac Bright Akwantey in sentencing the second accused said the court has taken into account the plea for mercy from the accused lawyer as well as the fact that he is a first time offender who has not wasted the time of the court.

He added that whilst considering the aforementioned, he also has a duty to stretch his neck and also consider the nature of the offence and the circumstance of the victim, the society and the accused  who is a policeman.

He said considering the accused person’s stature in life and his circumstance especially as a policeman, his acts to say the least were reprehensible.

His Honour Justice Akwantey said the importance of the sentence will be to serve as a deterrent for all serving police men and other public officers who have any intention to go that way.

He therefore sentenced the second accused to nine years imprisonment in hard labour on each account and they are to run concurrently.

The Wa Circuit Court Judge commended the Upper West regional command of the Ghana Police Service for not shielding the accused persons and allowing the law to take its course.

Meanwhile the other two accused persons, General Constable George Tanoe and Corporal joseph Kwakoh are to reappear on August 7.