Goat thieves fined Ghc1,800

The Tema Circuit Court ‘A’ on Monday fined two persons a total of 1,800 Ghana cedis for stealing five goats at Ada Foah in the Dangme East District.

Gabriel Konu, a farmer, and Nana Kwame, a fisherman, were sentenced to a fine of 1,200 and 600 Ghana cedis respectively.

In default, Konu would serve a one-year imprisonment while Kwame would be jailed six months.

The two were sentenced by the court presided over by Mrs. Lydia Osei-Marfo, after pleading 'guilty with explanation' to one count of conspiracy to commit crime and two counts of dishonestly appropriating five nanny goats.

Police Inspector Adu Kyeremeh told the court that Nene Akli Kabu, the complainant, and Konu resided at Ada Foah and Kwame stayed at James Town in Accra.

Inspector Kyeremeh said the complainant received information from a witness in the case that on Nov 12 at about 0200 hours he spotted two men carrying some sacks on their heads.

He said the witness told the complainant that Konu and Kwame hid the sacks at the Bana Presbyterian School at Ada Foah. He organized some men to the school where they met Konu and Kwame with the sacks.

The court heard that the accused persons abandoned their booty and bolted upon seeing the group but they were chased and apprehended.

Inspector Kyeremeh said the accused persons admitted the stealing offence when the carcasses of five goats were found in the sacks.

The prosecution stated that Madam Gladys Ayi and Madam Ruth Abrantie claimed ownership of the slaughtered goats when Konu and Kwame were handed over to the police.

In his explanation, Konu, whom the police said was recently released from Akuse prison for a similar offence, said the goats strayed into his farm at about 2300 hours on that day.

Kwame on the other hand accepted committing the offence and asked for leniency.