An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 24 year old trader to three years imprisonment in hard labour for inserting his finger into the vagina of a seven year old girl.

The convict, Charles Antwi, alias Dollar, who lives in the same house with the victim, lured her into his room when she had been sent on an errand by a witness in the house.

The witness, who realised the victim was long in returning, decided to go look for her, only to find her in the convict's room.

The court, presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemeva in her judgment, noted that medical report indicated that the victim's hymen was broken, stressing that the medical officer who conducted the test had, as well, suggested that there was a defilement, as there was a possible forcible penetration.

According to the court, the victim, in her testimony, emphasised that indeed, the convict inserted his finger into her vagina. Moreover the convict, in his earlier statement to the police, freely admitted to the offence, but denied the offence during trial.

The court, however, concluded that the convict's action towards the victim was to obtain sexual gratification, which as an evil deed, and, therefore, sentenced him to the said years in prison.

Charles Antwi had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of indecent assault, contrary to section 103 of act 29/60, as amended by section 11 of act 554/98.

The circumstances surrounding the sentence are that on November 24, 2011, in the evening, the victim was sent by a witness in their house to deliver a message to a neighbour.

The Prosecutor, Chief Inspector I.A.A Ahor, told the court that as the victim was on her way to deliver the message, the convict saw her.

According to him, the convict lured her into his bedroom, and asked her to sit on a plastic chair, after which he inserted his finger into the victim's vagina.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor said the witness, who had sent the victim on the errand, began getting worried when the victim was keeping long, so decided to go in search of her.

Chief Inspector Ahor recounted that during the search, the witness was informed that the victim was last seen around the doorstep of the convict.

"The witness, therefore, went to the convict's room and saw the victim and the convict standing in the room. The witness brought her out, and she narrated what the convict did to her in the room," the Prosecutor added.

He said the witness' father lodged a complaint at the police station, and was given a police medical form to send victim to hospital for examination and treatment.