Wedding thief caged

The young lady who is said to have been stealing parcels and money gifts at wedding ceremonies in Accra was yesterday brought to an Accra Circuit Court where she was charged with stealing.

Emelia Appiah was refused bail by the court presided over by Romaine Abele Abbey when her lawyer, Alidu Mohammed, put in a bail application after the court observed that it would be in her own interest to remain in custody for the time being.

The accused person, unemployed, who allegedly recently stole GHc15,000 cash at the wedding reception of a couple at 37 Military Hospital Officers Mess, pleaded not guilty to the stealing charge.

She was remanded into police custody to reappear on August 28, for hearing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Nyadikor told the court while presenting the facts of the case that the complainant, Eric Botwe Junior, is a businessman.

He narrated that, on April 20, 2013, the complainant got married to Linda Botwe.

In the morning on that day, Emelia allegedly went to the bride’s house and introduced herself as a member of the team who were to dress the bride.

Emelia was, however, refused access to the bride because the bride had already been dressed up when she arrived.

The prosecutor further stated that Emelia followed up to All Souls Baptist Church, South La, where the wedding took place and posed as Salomey Boatemaa Boamah who was one of the people in charge of receiving the gifts on behalf of the couple.

The church clerks reportedly arranged the gift table, and after the wedding ceremony, all the parcels and envelopes made up of GHc15,000.00 were taken to the reception grounds at the 37 Military Hospital Officers Mess.

Emelia, according to the prosecutor, again introduced herself to a witness in the case as a course mate of the bride at the University of Cape Coast.

After the wedding, the parcels and the record book were separated from the bag containing the envelopes and while the witnesses were packing the gifts into the wedding car, the accused allegedly stole the bag containing the envelopes and bolted in a waiting taxi.

The complainant on April 21, 2013, lodged a complaint with the Cantonment Police about the matter, and informed his friends to be on the lookout.

Inspector Nyadikor stated that on August 17, 2013, Emelia was spotted at another wedding reception at Dansoman St. Margaret Mary Preparatory School by one of the witnesses, busily receiving parcels and therefore raised the alarm.

The accused was arrested and sent to Dansoman Police Station. Later she was brought to Cantonment Police Station where she gave her statement to the police.

In her caution statement, Emelia allegedly admitted the offence, but stated that she stole only GHc8,000.