Driver gets 10 years for stealing

Michael Essiomele, a taxi driver, who bolted with three travelling bags containing personal effects at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), was on

Tuesday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court. Essiomele, a driver at the KIA, was hired by Dela Gyasi Mensah, a Ghanaian resident in the USA, who had returned to Ghana for holidays to be transported to the VIP Bus Terminal at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra.

The driver after loading the three bags into the boot of the car pretended to be parking the vehicle but sped off with the bags. Essiomele, who was charged for stealing, pleaded guilty and prayed the court to deal leniently with him.

The court presided over by Ms Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ordered that some of the personal effects that were retrieved should be given to the complainant.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Adizatu Sulemana, told the court that Essiomele resides at Ablekumah in Accra, and about two weeks ago, the complainant arrived at KIA from the USA and hired a taxi to be transported to VIP Bus Terminal so that he could board a bus to Kumasi.

He said Essiomele opened the boot, and loaded the complainant’s bags into the boot of his taxi and after security inspection; the convict moved his vehicle under the pretext of parking well for the complainant to board the car.

ASP Sulemana sped off with the three bags, and the complainant reported the case to the Airport Police, and an announcement was made about the case on an Accra based radio station.

A week later, Essiomele tried to sell two I-phones for GH 1,000 cedis but the Police had a tip off and arrested him.

The prosecution said Essiomele took the Police to a kiosk where he lived, and they took possession of the rest of the items.

ASP Sulemana said the complainant was invited by the Police and he identified the items as hers.