Air-conditioning technician granted bail for alleged theft

The Amasaman Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000.00 with two sureties to a 25-year-old air-conditioning technician, who was caught on Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) during an alleged theft at his previous employer's premises.

Richard Abeo is accused of unlawfully entering the offices of LeCountry Water Company Limited and taking GH¢27,542.00, as well as an HP laptop computer.

The court stipulated that the sureties must deposit their valid National Identity Cards with the Court's registry.

Abeo denied the charges and was ordered by the court, presided over by Enid Marful-Sau, to return on May 11, 2024, for a case management conference.

The prosecution is to furnish Abeo with disclosures before the next adjourned date.

Police Chief Inspector Frederick Awuah-Ansah informed the court that the complainants, Messrs. Wilfred Tetteh-Larbi, Operations Manager, and Daniel Adufu Abrakwa, Head of Administration of Le-Country Mineral Water Company in Shikpontele, behind the China Mall near Amasaman, reported the incident.

Abeo, an air-conditioning repairer residing in Opah, was a former employee of Le-Country Mineral Water Company.

Chief Inspector Awuah-Ansah recounted that on March 24, 2024, at approximately 6:30 PM, Abeo, who had been dismissed from the company, visited its premises and misled the security guards on duty, Annie Baffour Patrick and Godfred Osei Bonsu, into handing over the office keys under the false pretense of being asked to repair the company’s air conditioners.

The prosecution alleges that Abeo broke into the facility, damaged the company’s safe in the administrator’s office, and stole GH¢27,542.00.

He is also accused of entering the operations manager’s office and stealing an HP laptop computer, the value of which is currently unknown.

Chief Inspector Awuah-Ansah stated that the accused, captured on CCTV camera following the act, went into hiding until his arrest on May 3, 2024.

Abeo admitted to entering the premises and the company’s office in his cautioned statement to the police but denied the theft. Following the investigation, he was charged with the offenses and brought before the court.