Trader convicted for stealing

The Winneba District Magistrate Court, presided over by Mr. Charles Owusu Nsiah, has convicted a trader to a fine of 540 Ghana Cedis and remanded an unemployed person in prison custody for conspiring to commit crime.

Nuhu Gariba, 21, pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea to pay the said fine or in default, serve six months imprisonment in hard labour, while Papa Asabere, 23, pleaded not guilty and was remanded to reappear before the court on 26th November, 2014.

Narrating the facts of the case, Prosecutor Detective Sargent Peter Agbelie said the complainant of the case is Madam Hannah Derben, a trader and a cater taker of his brother’s building at Abasaba at Winneba.

He said Nuhu, who is the first accused person in the case, is a coconut seller and Asabere, the second accused, is unemployed and they both live at Winneba.

Detective Sgt. Agbelie said on 2nd November, 2014 at about 20:30 hours, a witness in the case intercepted the two accused persons, who were carrying a bundle of T and G from an unknown place in a very suspicious manner.

He said the witness confronted them, but they gave conflicting statements, saying Nuhu alleged that they were sent by someone, while Asabere claimed the items belonged to his mother.

The prosecution said the witness raised the alarm following the conflicting statements, and in the process Asabere was arrested and was sent to the Winneba Police Station, while Nuhu escaped.

Sgt. Agbelie said on November 9, 2014, Nuhu was arrested at his hideout and in his statement, admitted the offence and mentioned Asabere as his accomplice.

The prosecution earlier informed the court that Nuhu had earlier jumped bail and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on similar offence.