ACCRA: A Gender Based Violence Court has sentenced Prosper Kouku, a 23-year-old mason, to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of defiling a 14-year-old girl. Kouku denied the charges, but the court, led by Judge Dora Eshun, concluded that he forcibly had unprotected sex with the victim in the complainant's corridor.
According to Ghana News Agency, Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei led the prosecution, presenting evidence that Kouku encountered the victim on July 31, 2024, as she returned to Accra from Kasoa to spend her holidays with her grandfather, a 63-year-old security man. Kouku, who was unemployed and a neighbor to the complainant, engaged the victim in conversation, learning that she was alone at home.
The court was informed that Kouku followed the victim to her residence, where he forcibly had unprotected sex with her in the corridor. Upon returning home, the complainant noticed a change in the victim's walk and upon questioning her, she recounted the incident. The complainant and his friends subsequently apprehended Kouku on August 2, 2024, and handed him over to the police.
During police questioning, Kouku denied the offense, but a medical examination conducted by Dr. Prince E. M. Daitey at Maamobi General Hospital revealed evidence of forceful vaginal penetration and sexual assault. The court's verdict came after a thorough trial process, underscoring its commitment to addressing gender-based violence.
