The Wa Circuit Court on Thursday sentenced a 31-year-old police officer, Donald Appiah to 9 years in prison for defiling a 14-year-old girl.
The court, presided over by Justice I.B Akwantey passed the judgment upon the accused person’s admission of guilt for defiling the class six pupil during his first appearance in court last week.
Donald Appiah’s fellow accused persons Corporal Joseph Kwankoh and Constable George Tanoe who were also charged with defiling the same girl pleaded not guilty and were remanded in police custody to reappear in court on August 7.
Before the sentence was pronounced, Counsel for Donald Appiah, Bernard Angbanbew Nakaar, pleaded with the court to be lenient on his client since “he had owned up to the offence”.
Indeed, Justice I B Akantey said he took into consideration the plea of the Counsel and the fact that the accused was a first-time offender and there were no undue delays.
The judge commended the hierarchy in the region for not shielding their own. He said: “The Police Service is a human institution and as your members increase, some miscreants may find their ways into the service but the ability of the leadership to deal with such situations will determine how you can progress as an important institution of state.”
He added that “as a Judge, I have no delight in incarcerating people but when duty calls, we have to carry through the oaths that we have sworn to do justice to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill will”
By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana