Tailor fined 4million, jailed 12 months for stealing

Tema, March 24, GNA - Joshua Bannerman, a tailor has been jailed 12 months in addition to a fine of four million cedis for stealing his employer's items totalling over six million cedis. Bannerman, who was convicted on his own plea, and sentenced by the Tema Circuit Court "B", would serve another 12 months in default.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Ben Agbedanu told the court that Madam Millicent Opoku, the complainant was a caretaker of a restaurant and a tailoring shop at Tema Community Four, which belonged to Mrs Josephine Andoh, while the accused was a tailor at the tailoring shop. Police Inspector Agbedanu said on December 24, 2005, Madam Opoku, who left Bannerman in the shop, returned to detect the theft of 3,255,000 cedis, 10 pieces of clothes, a pair of jeans trousers, a number of snap rechargeable cards, as well as a number of Ghana Telecom phone cards, amounting to 6,210,000 cedis. He said the accused stopped going to work after the theft, making the complainant to suspect him.

Complainant got to know that, the accused has vacated his house, when she went there to question him on the missing items, however, she was informed later of his hide out at Nima in Accra. Inspector Agbedanu indicated that, complainant reported the case to the Nima police, who arrested and later handed him over to the community Four police. He said the accused admitted committing the offence in his caution statement.

Court jails 22-year-old unemployed 20 years for rape

Tepa (Ash), March 24, GNA - The Tepa circuit court on Thursday sentenced 22-year-old unemployed to 20 years imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old junior secondary school girl. Kwame Yeboah Akyeampong pleaded guilty to the charge.

Inspector Francis Asante told the court presided over by Mr S.K.B. Alomatu that, Akyeampong and victim lived in the same house at Tepa. He said at about 21.30 hours on March 18 this year, the victim was revising her notes in the house, when Akyeampong asked her to buy food for him and so she followed him into his room to collect the money. The prosecution said as soon as the victim entered the room, the accused gripped her firmly and after struggling with her for sometime, over-powered her, tore her underpants, stripped her naked and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

Inspector Asante said the victim screamed for help until her brother, who is a student returned to the house and heard the screaming, so he banged at the accused's door and shouted at him to open the door. He said Akyeampong sensing danger, opened the door and the victim came out and reported the case to her father, who in turn informed the police. The prosecution said the police issued a medical report form to the victim who took it to the hospital for examination and treatment. He said the medical report confirmed the sexual assault on the victim and the accused was arrested and charged with the offence.