Court jails driver nine years for car theft

A Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced a driver to nine years imprisonment for the theft of a KIA Rio taxi valued at GH¢17,000.00.

Mohammed Razak had been engaged as a spare driver of the car and pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Police Inspector Kwabena Oduro-Boateng told the court presided over by Justice William Boampong, that the complainant Ahmed Osei Kuffour, is the driver and lives at Sawaba, whilst the convict resides at Asawasi, all in Kumasi.

On March 3, he gave the taxi to Razak but with instructions to operate within the confines of Kumasi and return it by 2100 hours.

The convict agreed and drove off.

The prosecution said Kuffour became alarmed when at about 2130 hours he had neither heard from Razak nor seen his car.

Unknown to him, the convict had removed the stickers showing the owner’s address, packed all his belongings into it and set off on a journey to his hometown in the Republic of Togo.

He had all this while switched off his cellular phone.

Police Inspector Oduro-Boateng said at about midnight, Kuffuor received information that the taxi had been spotted heading towards Tamale.

He quickly informed the police and the car was intercepted at the Kintampo barrier. He was arrested together with the taxi and brought back to Kumasi.

During interrogation, he could not give any explanation for his action.

The court ordered the return of the car to his owner. **