Nigerian and Gambian jailed for stealing

A Nigerian and a Gambian were on Thursday sentenced to two years imprisonment each with hard labour by a Community Tribunal in Osu, Accra, for breaking into a car and stealing a laptop computer valued at seven million cedis.

Ran Imo, 23, and Julius Asinobi, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit crime, causing unlawful damage and stealing.

Inspector John K. Anim, who prosecuted told the tribunal, chaired by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills, that at about 0800 hours on January 25 the complainant, Mr. John Okantey went to the Accra Sports Stadium to watch a training match between the Black Stars and the Liberty Professionals.

The prosecutor said Mr Okantey parked his car at the Osu end of the stadium and entrusted it to the care of one Mr Ebenezer Amartey.

Soon afterwards Imo sneaked to the car, damaged the back door with a metal and stole the bag containing the computer but he was given away by the car's alarm system.

Inspector Anim said Mr Amartey went to the car on hearing the alarm and saw Imo who told him that Mr Okantey was his brother and that he had asked him to bring the computer.

Not convinced by Imo's excuse, Mr Amartey tried to stop the accused but Asinobi, who was then hanging around, attempted to rescue him.

He said during the confrontation, Mr Amartey raised the alarm and with the help of passers-by the accused persons were arrested and taken to the Osu police station