Two farmers jailed for stealing palm fruits

Asamankese, Sept 29, GNA - Two farmers, who stole 40 bunches of fresh oil palm fruits from the plantations of the Ghana Oil Palm Development Company (GOPDC), have been sentenced to three years imprisonment in hard labour each by the Asamankese circuit court.

William Larbi and Kwabena Otabil who pleaded guilty, were charged with conspiracy to steal and stealing. Larbi faced an additional charge of possessing an unlicensed locally made pistol.

According to Chief Inspector John Boateng, security men of GOPDC on patrol duties at the plantations on September 19 at about 4 am heard an unusual noise and therefore laid ambush.

They saw about 11 men carrying bunches of palm fruits and when they challenged they took to their heels. The security men managed to arrest Larbi and while taking him away, Otabil suddenly jumped from the bush carrying a Malaysian knife which is used for harvesting the bunches.

He was chased and arrested. Larbi, who said Otabil was his accomplice, was searched and the pistol was found on him. He alleged that he bought the pistol from a Togolese Togolese for 50,000 cedis. Larbi led them to Abena Avonyo at Asuom who had purchased 40 stolen bunches from the accused and others.

Avonyo who was charged with dishonestly receiving, was not in court. She is to be tried later. The judge, Mr S.S. Appiah, observed that the bunches sent to the court as exhibits were not mature enough and said the accused need to be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said stealing of the produce of the company was very rampant and that only a stiffer sentence could check the offence since fines and short prison terms have not helped.