Taxi driver jailed nine years for stealing sheep

Asamankese, April 29, GNA - The Asamankese Circuit Court on Friday sentenced David Quarcoo, a taxi driver to nine years' imprisonment for stealing 14 sheep.

Quarcoo pleaded guilty, when he appeared before the court presided over by Mr S. S. Appiah. Prosecuting Police Inspector Osei Owusu said a taxi cab carrying 14 live sheep, 10 in the booth, broke down at dawn on reaching Niifio village, near Suhum on April six.

The driver, Quarcoo pleaded with some of the inhabitants of the village to help him to push the vehicle and when they got closer they saw four live sheep in the cab and suspected that he might to have stolen them.

They, therefore, questioned him as to how he came by them but his answer was not convincing and they ordered him to open the booth, when he did so, they saw 10 live sheep in it.

Some of the people were asked to guard the vehicle and the driver while others rushed to Suhum to inform the Police. Inspector Owusu said Quarcoo gave conflicting accounts about how he got the animals, during interrogation.

He first told the Police that they were his and that he was conveying them to Accra from New Tafo. Later he changed his statement and said two men hired him from Nkawkaw to convey the animals to Accra but the vehicle broke down and when they realised that it was getting to day break they escaped leaving him with the sheep.

Inspector Owusu said Quarcoo claimed he could trace the men to Accra New Town but was not able to do so when sent there. Mr Appiah said people like Quarcoo were dangerous to society and must be kept away and warned drivers against aiding and abetting criminals.