In a case heard by the Gender-Based Violence Court, a 35-year-old labourer, Moro Yusif, has been sentenced to one-year imprisonment for sexually molesting a five-year-old girl in Weija, Accra. Yusif was charged with indecent assault and pleaded guilty with an explanation.
Yusif admitted to using his penis to inappropriately touch the victim but claimed he was playing with her to aid his erection.
He explained that he placed the child on his lap, resulting in his boxer shorts becoming wet. However, he asserted that his actions were not a case of defilement.
“On my lap, I was using her buttock to rub my boxer shorts, although the victim was wearing her pants and a straight dress,” Yusif stated in court.
The prosecution argued for a deterrent sentence, emphasizing that as an adult, Yusif had a responsibility to protect the victim, not to sexually molest her. Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei urged the court to consider the severity of the offense.
The incident occurred on January 8, 2024, at around 6:00 pm when the complainant, the mother of the victim, and her husband were relaxing in front of their room.
A witness observed the victim attempting to open the door of Yusif's room, leading to the discovery of the inappropriate behavior.
Upon confrontation, Yusif admitted to ejaculating in his boxer shorts while playing with the child.
The complainant reported the incident to the Weija Divisional DOVVSU, leading to medical examinations for the victim.
The court sentenced Yusif to one year in prison for indecent assault, emphasizing the need to protect children from such acts of abuse.
