Man survives a gunshot but jailed for stealing

A 20-year-old unemployed Abdella Hamidu, who survived a gunshot while escaping from a poultry farm where he attempted to steal, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.

He pleaded guilty to stealing and was convicted on his own plea by a Dormaa Circuit Court presided over by Mr Alexander Osei Tutu.

Police Chief Inspector Bismarck Boye Lartey told the court that on August 15, at 0400 the convict went to the Mona Poultry Farm at Anyinasu near Dormaa Ahenkro to steal, and in the process, the security man on duty spotted him and ordered him to stop but he ignored the order and took to his heels with a cocoa sack.

The prosecution said the security man pursued and fired at him from behind which forced him to drop the sack and he fell down.

He said the security man reported the matter to the Dormaa Police, who went to the scene and found the convict on the ground with a cocoa sack containing three live and a dead bird; he was rushed to the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Chief Inspector Lartey said the convict told the Police that he conspired with one Yaw Solomon, who is yet to be arrested, to steal.

He said the convict disclosed that he had earlier stolen 10 birds and 15 crates eggs from the Mona Farm, which he sold to Felicia Nyarko and Doris Adomah both traders at Dormaa Ahenkro.

Meanwhile, the two traders, who have since been arrested by the Police and charged with dishonestly receiving stolen items, have each been granted GHC3,000 bail to re-appear on September 13.