Three convicted for breaking into Max Mart

Accra, Sept. 2, GNA - Three bakers were on Thursday sentenced a total fine of 18 million cedis for breaking into the premises of Max Mart Limited, a shopping mall in Accra and stealing.

Amanba Ayooma, Eric Korley and Jerry Nii Armah Ayitey, all employees of Foods Inn Ghana Limited, who made away with 13.6 million cedis and various provisions, would in default serve three years jail term each.

The convicts who were charged with conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing pleaded guilty.

The court chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah convicted them on their own plea but noted that they were first offenders. The judge further ordered that the provisions retrieved should be given to the Max Mart.

Two other accomplices, Abass Osman and Dodze Agbeyeka, are at large.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dudimah Zakaria said Max Mart and Foods Inn Ghana Limited, shared premise and were only separated by a gate.

On August 21, Mr Fadi Wolley, Managing Director of Max Mart Limited, locked his office and left for home at about 2100 hours. The prosecution said the following day he found out that 13.6 million cedis, which was left in his drawer, had been stolen. DSP Zakaria said Mr Wolley reported the incident to the Police Panthers Unit.

During investigations the security camera placed at Max Mart showed that Ayooma, Korley and Osman were seen entering the premises and picking various items from the shop shelves at about 02:30 hours and carried them to the premises of Foods Inn.

The prosecution said the security camera also indicated that Ayooma and Korley later entered the accounts office and the Managing Director's offices where they removed a polythene bag containing money and passed it through the window to Korley who was standing by the window. The prosecution said after their acts, the convicts and their accomplices shared the booty.

DSP Zakaria said though Ayitey and Agbeyeka did not enter the premises, they agreed with the Ayooma, Korley and Osman to commit the crime by contributing 20,000 cedis each to purchase a padlock, which they exchanged with the one on the gate leading to the bakery and Max Mart. Some of the items were later retrieved from Nima.