20-year-old jailed 14 years for stealing

The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 20-year-old unemployed man, Kwabena Adjei, to 14 years’ imprisonment for stealing a Samsung Galaxy J7 phone worth GH¢1,200 at Poano, near Anwiankwanta.

The man, who has previously served jail term, was convicted by the court on his plea.

He was charged with unlawful entry and stealing, contrary to sections 152 and 124(1) of Act 29/60.

The court, presided over by Fredrick Nawura, sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment in hard labour on each count.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

He admitted stealing the phone from the complainant’s room on November 5, 2018 at about 5:30 am and selling it to someone for GH¢700 about three weeks later.

The prosecutor Detective Inspector Stephen Ofori said that the complainant realized that the mobile phone was missing after he woke up.

According to Inspector Ofori, the complainant, who suspected Kwabena Adjei, asked his friends to put him under surveillance.

Three weeks later, a witness in the case informed the complainant that he saw Adjei using the cell phone at Huntado, he narrated.

The prosecutor said the complainant reported the incident to the police which led to the arrest of Kwabena on December 8, 2018.

The convict told police investigators that he sold the phone for GH¢700.

He was subsequently charged with unlawful entry and stealing and arraigned before the court after police investigations.