Farmer jailed for stealing car batteries

A Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced a 20-year-old farmer, Desmond Mensah, to three years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing eight car batteries valued 4,500 Ghana cedis. He pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edward Paddy told the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo, that the complainant who is an auto electrician in Prestea has been experiencing series of theft in his shop.

He said, on June 3, around 5:00 am, the complainant went to his shop and detected that thieves have broken into it and made away with eight car batteries belonging to his customers.

The complainant reported the matter to the police and Desmond was later arrested with the exhibits. He was taken to the Bogoso police station for questioning.

According to the prosecutor, one taxi driver, a witness in the case, informed the Police that on June 3, at about 4:30 am whilst at the Prestea lorry station, Desmond approached him that he is a scrap dealer who wanted to convey his scrap car batteries to Bogoso.

The taxi driver charged the convict 25 Ghana cedis and after loading the items he instructed the driver not to stop at the Prestea Police check point. Chief Inspector Paddy said the driver became suspicious on reaching Bogoso, and alerted a police officer who was standing by the road side.

On seeing the driver conversing with the police officer, the convict for fear of being arrested, attempted to escape but he was apprehended by the witness and was handed over to the Police.

The Prosecutor said the complainant was later invited to the police station and he identified the exhibits as his stolen car batteries.