Galamsey operator jailed for stealing machine

A Tarkwa circuit court on Monday sentenced Isaac Oduro, a 24- year-old illegal miner, to six months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing a Kipor water pumping machine valued 2,000 Ghana cedis.

He pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edward Paddy told the court presided over by Mr.Justice Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant, Kwame Etoue, is a driver working with Samaward Building Construction Company at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa while the convict who is popularly known as Lazy Boy and his accomplice, Absorber, have no permanent place of abode.

Chief Inspector Paddy said at about 2245 hours on August 8, a witness in the case met Oduro and his accomplice at the Tarkwa Railway Station holding a Kipor water pumping machine.

He said the witness suspected that the pump was stolen and approached the two but the accomplice, who knew the witness, escaped.

Chief Inspector Paddy said Oduro was arrested with the machine by the witness and handed over to the Police.

During interrogation, the Prosecutor said, the convict admitted stealing the machine with his accomplice.