The 42year old resident of Apremdo near Takoradi was charged with two counts of defilement and incest after a complaint by his wife, Faustina Eshun, with whom he has six children including the victim, the 15-year-old daughter.

Defilement incident. 

In 2018, Faustina Eshun realised their daughter was pregnant after interrogating her. The victim subsequently confirmed this and named her father, Kwesi Botwe and her elder sister’s husband, Daniel Kwofie, as the two she suspected as responsible.

Subsequent to this, Faustina confronted her husband Kwesi Botwe who admitted having sexual intercourse with the daughter but denied responsibility for the pregnancy.

He was therefore reported to the Kwesimintsim Police station where he admitted to the offence and was arrested.

The defense case

In arguing his clients case in court, counsel for the accused, Philip Fiifi Backman, pleaded for mercy since the suspect did not waste the court’s time with his admission.

He further argued that his client was a young man with several years ahead of him, and being a first-time offender, prayed the court for mercy “as a Christmas gift”.

Ruling

In her ruling, the Presiding Judge Abigail Anima Asare, said even though she agreed with the counsel Philip Fiifi Buckman to grant Botwe some mercy, defilement was a serious crime and therefore overlooked the plea.

In view of this, she sentenced Kwesi Botwe to 15 years in prison with hard labor for his first charge of defilement of a female under age 16 and another sentence of 15 years of imprisonment with hard labor for his second charge of Incest, but to be served concurrently.