Court fines two for stealing dried cocoa beans

Wassa-Akropong (W/R) May 27,- GNA- The Wassa-Akropong Magistrate's court on Friday sentenced Kofi Twum, 20, "galamsey" operator and Kofi Owusu, 18, mason to a fine of one million cedis each for stealing dried cocoa beans valued at about 200,000 cedis. The accused, who pleaded guilty will serve a total of six months in imprison if they fail to pay the fine.

Police Chief Inspector John Katapu, prosecuting told the court, presided over by Mr. Frank Komla Mensah that in October 2005, Owusu and Twum went to Wassa-Adansi at midnight and stole the produce belonging to Mr. Kwaku Diaw. While stealing the cocoa, they were spotted by another farmer and when the alarm was raised they took to their heels and escaped. Police investigations led to the arrest of Twum in a cottage, while Owusu was arrested and sent to the Police by his father.

At the same court, Ama Nyarko a 31-year-old farmer of Wassa-Tikoto was sentenced to a fine of 2.5 million cedis for assaulting a 62-year-old Madam Mercy Mesiame. She pleaded guilty to the charge of assault and causing harm. Two million cedis of the fine, if paid, would be given to the complainant as compensation. She will spend six months in prison in hard labour if she fails to pay the fine.

Chief Inspector Katapu told the court that on April 30 this year, the accused began to rain insults on the complainant when the accused met her on the way to market. When she asked the accused why the insults, she pounced on the complainant and beat her up mercilessly and she lost one of her teeth in the process.