Two night watchmen of the Takoradi Secondary School (TADISCO) got their colleague drunk to enable them to steal roofing sheets belonging to the school.
David Appiah, 50, Head Watchman and Edward Busanga, 27, Watchman got Mr Jerma Akolbila, another watchman in charge of the school's assembly hall drunk so that they could steal roofing sheets kept there. Appiah pleaded guilty while Busanga pleaded not guilty to stealing and conspiracy, when they appeared before a Sekondi Circuit Tribunal chaired by Mr Frederick Miezah-Anyimah.
They were granted 20 million cedis bail with two sureties each to re-appear on October 19. Prosecuting, Police Inspector John Akowuah told the court that Mr Kofi Adade-Antwi, Headmaster of TADISCO was the complainant. He said the roof of one of the school blocks was ripped off during a rainstorm and were cut into smaller pieces and kept in the assembly hall, where Akolbila watches. Mr Adade-Antwi warned Akolbila to be very careful to ensure that nobody tampers with the sheets.
Inspector Akowuah said on August 20, Appiah took a piece of the roofing sheet and gave it to Busanga to send it to the town to find its market price. Having found out the price people were prepared to pay for the sheets, the two tried to convince Akolbila to join him to steal them but he declined. Inspector Akowuah said on August 21, while Akolbila was on duty, around 20:00 hours, Busanga took him to a nearby drinking bar and bought him three bottles of Guinness.
When they got back to the school, Busanga again offered Akolbila another bottle of beer but he could not drink it and fell fast asleep, the Prosecutor added. Inspector Akowuah alleged that realising the state of Akolbila, Busanga took the keys to assembly hall and went and carried away the roofing sheets. The next morning Mr Adade-Antwi found Akolbila still drunk at about 08:00 hours and detected that the roofing sheets had been stolen.
