Palm wine tapper jailed five years for theft

A circuit court in Cape Coast, on Friday sentenced a 23-year – old palm wine tapper, to five years imprisonment for unlawful entry and theft.

Michael Awudu –Idi, who stole GH¢370.00, Akpeteshie and personnel belonging of Mr Moses Lawer at Mbem near Jukwa in the Central Region, pleaded guilty.

Chief Inspector Francis Ockom told the court presided over by Mrs. Florence Kai Otu that, the complainant was an Akpeteshie distiller and the convict was his (Lawer) employee, at distillery.

Prosecution said on May 4, 2012, after the close of work, Lawer locked his distillery and left for home.

Chief Insp. Ockom said when Lawer went to the distillery the next day, he detected that the facility had been broken into and the amount, pair of shoes, black jeans trouser, and men’s under wear were stolen.

Prosecution said that since the theft, Awudu-Idi did not attend work, and Lawer received information that the convict had traveled to Asesewa in the Eastern region.

Chief Insp. Ockom said that on May 9,2012, Awudu-Idi again went to Lawer’s distillery and stole a single barrel gun, mobile phone, a pair of sandals and eight gallons of Akpeteshie and absconded to Abrafo near Jukwa.

He said Awudu –Idi called a colleague at the distillery on phone and following a tip off the police arrested the convict at his hideout.**