A BUSINESSMAN, 64, is being held in police custody for impregnating his 15 year-old-granddaughter.
The accused person, Emmanuel Oko Lartey, allegedly had sexual intercourse with the victim on two occasions which resulted in pregnancy.
The victim, according to ASP Sarah Acquah, has since three weeks ago delivered a baby.
The accused person yesterday appeared before an Accra Circuit court presided over by Ellen V. Amoah on two charges of defilement and incest.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded into police custody to reappear on January 30 for hearing.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant is Amos Donkor, the father of the victim and lives at Korle-Gonno, a suburb of Korle-Bu.
Oko Lartey, 64, also lives in the same area and is the maternal grandfather to the victim.
Narrating the incident to the court, ASP Acquah stated that in 2013, the victim used to visit her grandfather to run errands for him and also take feeding money.
Oko Lartey allegedly took advantage of his granddaughter and sexually abused her on two occasions.
As a result of that, the victim became pregnant. However, her parents got wind of it when the pregnancy was 32 weeks old.
The accused, with the intention to hide his deeds, took the pregnant girl to a secret location until she delivered.
The complainant, who became aware of this, reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested. After investigations, Oko Lartey was charged with the offence.
Man Defiles Cousin
In a related development, an unemployed man, Abdul Rashid Morgan Acquah, is also before the same court for defiling his 13-year-old cousin.
He was remanded into police custody by the court after he had been charged with defilement. Morgan, who has denied defiling the victim, would reappear on January 30 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbere, stated that both the victim and the accused lived in the same house at Mataheko, Paa Willie.
He narrated that in 2013; the accused lured the victim into her grandfather?s room and had sex with her.
On another occasion, the accused called the victim to their great-grandmother?s room and had sex with her again.
This was after the great-grandmother who is old and cannot walk properly had been placed outside in a wheelchair to relax.
The accused allegedly further continued his sexual escapade with the victim on a sofa in the room.
The victim according to the prosecutor failed to disclose her ordeal to anybody.
The house help later informed the grandmother of the victim that the accused has been making sexual advances at the victim. This prompted the complainant to interview the victim.
Detective Inspector Atimbere said the victim then narrated her ordeal to the complainant, who made a report to Odorkor Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit.
A police medical form was issued to the complainant to send the victim to the hospital for examination and treatment.
The accused was subsequently arrested and after investigation was charged with the offence in court.
By Mary Anane
