Ex-convict back in jail for stealing

Sunyani, Nov 9, GNA - A magistrate's court in Sunyani on Wednesday fined a 34-year-old ex-convict, Kwaku Boateng, GH=A2360 (3.6 million cedis) for stealing electronics and other household items valued at GH=A21,000 (10 million cedis).

Boateng pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing and unlawful entry. He could however not pay the fine and was sent to jail for nine months.

The presiding judge, Mr Albert Zoogah, stated that he had been very lenient to the accused, taking into cognisance the fact that all the items stolen had been retrieved by the police.

He ruled that the items should be handed over to the complainant. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Alex Fosu, told the court that the complainant, Mr. Kwame Gyamera, a drinking bar operator, resided at Newtown in Sunyani while the accused was resident at Dumasua, near Sunyani.

He said on September 16, this year, Boateng broke into the complainant's drinking bar in the night and stole an amplifier, a pair of speakers, a generator, floor carpet and a television set. The prosecutor said on October 30 this year the complainant went to a popular chop bar at Dumasua to eat and saw his stolen amplifier so he reported to the police and the bar operator was arrested. He during interrogation the bar operator mentioned Boateng as the one who sold the machine to him.

The court heard that the police followed up to Boateng's room and found the other missing items except the generator, which he later led the police to retrieve from a buyer.