M'Plaza Hotel employees jailed 18 years

Accra, June 10, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday sentenced two persons to a total of 18 years' imprisonment for stealing 300 million cedis belonging to the Managing Director of M'Plaza Hotel in Accra. Bismark Commey, a Security Man and Padmore Mensah, Unemployed, changed their plea of not guilty to guilty and they were convicted on their own plea by the Court presided over by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh.
Richard Afari, a Security Man, who returned 75 million cedis being his share of the booty, was slapped with a fine of five million cedis or in default go to jail for three years. He pleaded guilty.
They were charged with three counts of conspiracy, stealing and unlawful entry.
Prince Takyi, another Security Man and an accomplice, is at large. Sentencing them, the Court noted that all the convicts had confessed to the offences in their respective statements to the Police.
They conspired and stole 25 million cedis; 21,000 dollars, 5,500 pounds sterling 1,500 Euros and 400,000 CFA from the Hotel.
The Court noted that Commey and Mensah had failed to pay back what they got from their criminal acts saying that they wanted to go to jail and return to enjoy their booty.
It explained that since Afari had returned his share it would not be fair for all the convicts to get the same sentences and said it was, therefore, sparing him a custodial sentence while Commey and Mensah go in for nine years each.
Prosecuting, Mr Augustines Obuor, Assistant State Attorney, said on March 2, 2002, Commey invited Afari, Mensah and Takyi and they entered the office of Mr Stephen Osei Akoto, Managing Director of the M'Plaza Hotel, and stole various sums totalling 300 million cedis. 10 June 04

Accra, June 10, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday sentenced two persons to a total of 18 years' imprisonment for stealing 300 million cedis belonging to the Managing Director of M'Plaza Hotel in Accra. Bismark Commey, a Security Man and Padmore Mensah, Unemployed, changed their plea of not guilty to guilty and they were convicted on their own plea by the Court presided over by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh.
Richard Afari, a Security Man, who returned 75 million cedis being his share of the booty, was slapped with a fine of five million cedis or in default go to jail for three years. He pleaded guilty.
They were charged with three counts of conspiracy, stealing and unlawful entry.
Prince Takyi, another Security Man and an accomplice, is at large. Sentencing them, the Court noted that all the convicts had confessed to the offences in their respective statements to the Police.
They conspired and stole 25 million cedis; 21,000 dollars, 5,500 pounds sterling 1,500 Euros and 400,000 CFA from the Hotel.
The Court noted that Commey and Mensah had failed to pay back what they got from their criminal acts saying that they wanted to go to jail and return to enjoy their booty.
It explained that since Afari had returned his share it would not be fair for all the convicts to get the same sentences and said it was, therefore, sparing him a custodial sentence while Commey and Mensah go in for nine years each.
Prosecuting, Mr Augustines Obuor, Assistant State Attorney, said on March 2, 2002, Commey invited Afari, Mensah and Takyi and they entered the office of Mr Stephen Osei Akoto, Managing Director of the M'Plaza Hotel, and stole various sums totalling 300 million cedis. 10 June 04