Carpenter jailed for stealing

Accra Nov. 10, GNA - A 32-year-old carpenter who stole building materials worth 178 million cedis belonging to his employer and used them on his own building was on Wednesday sentenced to six years imprisonment with hard labour by a circuit court in Accra. Christopher Quao pleaded guilty and the court convicted him on his own plea.

The case as presented by Chief Inspector Alice Takyiwa was that the complainant Madam Joceline Tagoe is a businesswoman resident at Teshie, Accra.

Prosecution said between 2003 and 2004, Madam Tagoe employed Quao to design her window and door frames on her uncompleted two-storey building at Tsuibleo, Teshie in Accra.

The prosecutor said Quao therefore, requested the complainant to purchase 235 pieces of red wood for the job and she obliged. The complainant further gave Quao the keys to her storeroom. Prosecution said Quao succeeded in stealing 15 tons of iron roads, six boxes of nails, 150 bags of cement, 200 pieces of red wood and 1,200 pieces of 'wawa' boards totalling 178 million cedis. Prosecution stated that luck however, run out on Quao on November 7, when the complainant met him with 12 pieces of the red wood in a taxi at about 1200 hours.

Quao, sensing danger ordered the taxi driver to speed off to his residence at Achimota.

Madam Tagoe reported the matter to the police and Quao was arrested. Prosecution said 64 pieces of the iron rods were retrieved in Quao's room at complainant's uncompleted two-storey building at Teshie, while 12 pieces of red wood were also found in his residence at Achimota.