Fake soldier jailed

Juaso (Ash), Dec 11, GNA=96 Thirty two year old unemployed, Augustine Aprebisah, was on Friday sentenced to three years imprisonment in hard labour by the Juaso circuit court for parading himself as a soldier on the streets of Agogo in the Asante-Akim North district. He pleaded guilty to two counts of impersonation and possessing a firearm without authority.

Prosecuting, Detective Police Inspector Mike Fritz Bekoe told the court that the Agogo police on November 6 received information that the accused was parading the streets of Agogo claiming to be a soldier. When the police rushed to the scene, Aprebisah, who was in military attire, told them he was a soldier based in Takoradi and was in Agogo on operational duty.

The police then demanded his unit and number, but Aprebisah could not provide them, which raised the suspicion about the authenticity of his claims.

When he was searched, a locally-manufactured pistol was found on him and was arrested. He confessed at the police station that he was not a soldier.