Laptop thief jailed twenty-four months

A 27 year-old galamsey operator, Stephen Kaku, has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing a Dell Laptop valued GH¢ 500.00.

He pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, and stealing.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainant was a student of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, while the convict and his accomplice, Collins Sika Nartey, who was on the run, were resident of Akoon and Cyanide, respectively, in Tarkwa.

He said for some time now, thieves had been attacking students of the University and two students were stabbed with sharp objects and their properties especially phones and laptops were stolen.

The Prosecutor said October 13, last year, Bismark Asamoah Appau, a student of UMaT went for prayer meeting leaving his roommate Joshua Yeboah in their room.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said later, Yeboah left the door leading to their room unlocked because Appau had not returned from the prayer meeting.

He said the accused who was then loitering in the place, then entered the room and stole the laptop belonging to Appau.

However, on reaching a place around the Water Loo, one of the University’s hostels, Kaku and Sika Nartey, his accomplice, were seen by Abubakar Sani Mohammed, Seidu Adam and Seidu Amidu who were all members of the UMaT Cadet Corps.

Chief Amponsah said when the students asked Kaku and Nartey to stop, they took to their heels but Kaku was arrested, while Nartey was able to escape.

He said Kaku was handed over to the police together with the laptop.