Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court that the complainant, Stephen Kwasi Essilfie, is a Forest Guard and relative of the victim.

He said both the accused and victim lived in the same vicinity at Dompim in the Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipality of the Western Region.

He said in 2014, the victim was sent by her mother and the accused also asked her to buy some items for him.

However, when the girl delivered the items to him in his room, Sophadae locked the door and sexually assaulted her.

According to the prosecutor, the accused fled to neighboring Cote d’lvoire after the act but was arrested when he returned to Ghana this year.

Source: GNA