Unemployed man jailed for stealing taxi

Kumasi, July 19, GNA - A 22-year-old unemployed man was on Tuesday jailed three years in hard labour by a circuit court in Kumasi for stealing a taxi. Adamu Haruna pleaded guilty. His two accomplices, known only as Akwasi and Kwadwo, are, however, on the run.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joseph Odjidja told the court that at about 2100 hours on July 6, this year, the complainant, Mr Kwaku Asante, a mechanic, parked his Toyota Tercel taxi in front of his house, locked it and went to bed.

He said Haruna and his accomplices, who had been watching the complainant, stole the taxi, which was driven off driven by Kwadwo. The three also succeeded in stealing a compact disc player and speakers from another taxi also parked at the roadside and drove away.

Chief Inspector Odjidja said on reaching Dichemso, the petrol in the taxi got finished, forcing them to abandon it after removing the battery.

Unfortunately for them, he said, members of the Dichemso neighbourhood watch committee who were on patrol arrested Haruna. They handed him over to the police but the two others managed to escape with the battery. In his caution statement to the police, the accused admitted the offence and was charged, Chief Inspector Odjidja added.