Farmer jailed 18 months for stealing cocoyam

Kade, June 16, GNA - Isaac Awuah, a farmer who stole a quantity of cocoyam valued at GHC 20, was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Kade District Magistrate Court. Awuah pleaded guilty and will re-appear before the court on July 02 to answer a further charge of threatening to kill Eric Obeng Ambrese, the owner of the farm he stole the cocoyam from with a cutlass. The prosecution said on June 06 the complainant and his wife were in the house when they received information that Awuah was stealing his farm produce.

The complainant set off for his farm and on the way he met a boy carrying cocoyam and suspecting the cocoyam to be from his farm he seized it and took it home.

He went to the farm and realised that some cocoyam had been harvested. Awuah, on learning that the complainant had taken possession of the cocoyam the boy was carrying, went to the house of the complainant and threatened to kill him in the presence of his wife.

In a caution statement to the Police, he admitted stealing the cocoyam but denied threatening the complainant.

He pleaded with the court to deal leniently with him since he was ready to compensate the complainant by weeding two acres of his farm. Just as the Magistrate, Mr Abdul Majid Iliasu, convicted him and was about to pass sentence the prosecution informed the court of Awuah previous jail term.

An elderly man, who said he was a brother of Awuah's father, stood up and said the convict was very notorious for stealing, assault and threat.