The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court in the Eastern Region has remanded a 45-year-old mason into prison custody after he pleaded not guilty to charges of allegedly defiling a two-year-old girl at Ogome near Somanya.
The accused, Richard Langma, was arraigned before the court presided over by Mr Kwasi Appiatse Abaidoo and denied the charge of defilement of a child under 16 years, contrary to Section 101(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Okrah Akomeah, the complainant, a 24-year-old trader and relative of the accused, resides in the same compound house with him at Ogome.
The prosecution told the court that on June 24, 2026, the complainant, who was unwell, left her two-year-old daughter playing in the compound with another child while she rested indoors.
ASP Akomeah said a witness later heard the child crying and, together with the complainant, searched for her and found her inside the accused’s room.
The child was reportedly rescued and handed back to her mother, who observed that she was bleeding and immediately reported the matter to the police.
The child was taken to the Somanya Polyclinic, issued a police medical report form, and later referred to the Akuse Government Hospital for further examination and treatment before being discharged the same day.
The prosecution further told the court that the accused was arrested later that day and allegedly admitted during investigations that he committed the act, claiming he believed the child had a spirit that needed to be removed.
Following the completion of investigations, the accused was formally charged and arraigned before the court.
The court subsequently remanded him into prison custody after he pleaded not guilty.
The case has been adjourned to July 13, 2026 for further hearing.
