The Sogakope Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Setsoafia Kudzu, a 25-year-old man accused of defiling a 10-year-old girl. The warrant was issued by His Honor Joseph N. McAli Jr. on Monday, July 1, 2024, after the prosecution, led by D/Inspr. Nene Oman V., requested it.
Kudzu was granted bail when he was first arraigned before the court last month and was due to reappear on Monday. However, he failed to appear, and one of his sureties, Innocent Gbedzi, informed the court that Kudzu had been absent for several days. Gbedzi had been trying to serve Kudzu with copies of the case disclosures but couldn’t find him.
The accused, a carpenter’s apprentice, allegedly defiled the 10-year-old girl, a class four pupil, in Toklokpo, a suburb of Sogakope in the Volta region. The victim suffered severe injuries and infections in her genital area and was admitted to the Sogakope District hospital for several days.
The court heard that Kudzu’s wife and children have also been absent from the community for days, and the police have relocated the victim and her mother to an undisclosed location for their safety. Some community women had attempted to frustrate them, according to the prosecution.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement of a child under 16 years, contrary to section 101 of the Criminal Offenses Act 29/60 as amended by Act 554: section 11. The case will continue on a later date, and the court has ordered the arrest of Kudzu to ensure his appearance.
