Unemployed jailed 18 months for stealing

The Winneba District Magistrates’ Court has jailed a 21 year old unemployed man to 18 months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing and causing unlawful damage to properties.

Prince Ghartey, pleaded guilty and was sentenced accordingly.

Prosecuting, Inspector Peter Agbelie told the court presided over by Mr. Alexander Owoarie that the complainants in the case were Eunice Mamlie Boako and Esi Essuman, both students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) whiles the accused Prince Ghartey, is unemployed and a native of Winneba.

Inspector Agbelie said the complainants live in two single self contain apartment rooms at Water Works Road area in Winneba.

He said on September 4, 2015, at about 10.30 hours, the accused person entered the premises of the complainants house in their absent, broke the main entrance metal door to the corridor and entered their rooms.

According to the prosecution, Ghartey first entered the room of Mamlie, took an amount of GH?250.00 and her provisions and packed them into a sack.

He then broke into the room of Ms. Essuman and dismantled her assembled wardrobe, took a five Kg. bag of rice, provisions, a dressing mirror, a multi T.V Decoder and cash amount of GH?2500.00 and hid them all in the sack and escaped.

Inspector Agbelie said when the complainants returned from town they detected that their rooms had been broken into and they raised the alarm, attracting the attention of neighbors.

They went out in search of the thief and had information that the convict was seen carrying a sack from the direction of their house.

The matter was reported to the Police and the accused was arrested later at a drinking bar in the Winneba township and when the police confronted him, he admitted stealing the items.

The prosecution said the accused was taken to his house where the items were found nicely arranged in his room but could not account for the money, adding that, the items were packed to the police station.

Inspector Agbelie said in his caution statement he admitted the offence and after investigations he was arraigned before the court charged with the offence.

The items have since been handed over to the complainants, as ordered by the court.