Footballer hot for stealing mobile phone

An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday remanded one Clifford Nii Laryea, a footballer for conspiring with one Stephen, now at large, and stealing an Infinix Hot S mobile phone worth GHc 560.00.

Clifford who was also charged for causing unlawful damage, pleaded guilty.

He however pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and stealing.

In his explanation Clifford said he, together with his friend had a misunderstanding with the complainant and during a little struggle his colleague hit the complainant and his mobile phone fell down and the screen got broken.

The court however entered a plea of not guilty for him on the charge of causing harm, based on his explanation.

The case was adjourned to January 25.

The facts of the case as presented by Superintendent Kweku Bempah are that the complainant is a Taxi Driver, while the accused person is a Footballer.

He said on December 30, 2016, the complainant was on his normal rounds soliciting for passengers at about 0330 hours, when Clifford and one Stephen currently at large stopped him for his service.

He said during negotiation, Clifford and his accomplice stood by the taxi on opposite sides, so while Stephen engaged the complainant, Clifford took the complainant’s Infinix hot S mobile phone at his blind site.

The prosecution said when the two, noticed that they had succeeded in appropriating the complainants phone they asked him to go since they could not afford the GH? 12.00 he was demanding.

The complainant shortly detected his phone had been stolen and confronted the accused and his accomplice but they beat him up.

He struggled with them but they over powered him and went away with the phone.

Superintendent Bempah told the court that the complainant then sought the assistance of his friends and they mounted a search for the two.

He said Clifford was spotted around photo club on the Oxford Street and was arrested. When a search was conducted on him, the complainants Infinix phone was found on him with the screen shattered.

He said Clifford was handed over to the police and during investigation, he denied the offence in his caution statement.