Man gets 21 years for sexually assaulting minorTHE Gender-Based Violence Court has sentenced a 23-year-old unemployed man, Bernard Ampomah, to 21 years in prison, for defilement, sexual assault and assault.
Ampomah had engaged in anal sex with a 15-year-old boy at Tabora, Accra, and subjected the minor to beatings when the boy declined to further have sex with him, even while the victim was unwell.
For defilement, the court, presided by Dora Eshun, founded Ampomah guilty on all charges, and sentenced him to 21 years, 10 years for sexual assault, and five years for threatening death.
Additionally, the court imposed GH¢3,600 fine on Ampomah, for threat of death, which, if unpaid, would result in one year imprisonment.
Ampomah also received a two-year sentence for assault and a fine of GH¢1,200, which would result in six months imprisonment if unpaid.
The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyie, told the court that the complainant is a 48-year-old trader, and father of the boy.
The prosecution stated that Ampomah, unemployed, and a friend of the victim, residing at Lapaz in Accra, invited the boy to his house on March 23, 2023.
Insp Aniagyie said Ampomah lured the boy into his room and had anal sex with him, and threatened to kill the victim if he informed anyone about their activities.
The prosecution revealed that Ampomah continued to have anal sex with the victim, and sometimes ‘picked’ him up from school during classes, under the pretext of taking him to the hospital.
Insp Aniagyie further revealed that on October 2, 2023, Ampomah assaulted the boy, hitting his right eye with a bottle and causing bruises on the body.
The court heard that Ampomah also hit the victim’s chest, when he refused to have anal sex with him (Ampomah), resulting in the boy coughing out blood.
Insp Aniagye said on October 19, 2023, the boy told Ampomah that he would not have sex with him again because he was sick.
The prosecution noted that accused lure the victim to his house with a video game, and when the boy arrived at Ampomah’s house, he pulled a knife at him and locked him up.
The prosecution said that Ampomah again had anal sex with the victim, and when he could no longer endure the ordeal, he reported the matter to complainant.
The prosecution said complainant confronted Ampomah over the issue.
Moreover, Chief Insp Aniagyie said Ampomah went to complainant’s house and threatened to kill the victim, even after serving jail term, if the complainant dared to report the matter to the police.
The prosecution said the matter was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU), at Tesano in Accra, and a medical form was issued to the complainant for medical examination and treatment of the victim. —GNA