Mason sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for stealing

Agona Swedru, May 24, GNA - An Agona Swedru Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Robert K.K. Asaase, has jailed a mason five years with hard labour for stealing personal belongings of Ms Elizabeth Essini, a Swedru-based trader.

Arkoh Sowah, 28, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and unlawful entry . Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant R.A. Boamah told the court that the complainant is a trader who lives at Yaabem, a suburb of Agona Swedru. and have a store at Central market of Swedru .

Sgt Boamah said on May 17, 2004, the complainant, who owns a store at the Swedru Central Market left for the store with her husband. While they were away, the accused person went and forced the door of the complainant open.

The prosecution said the convict entered the room and took possession of two bags containing the items worth about 30 million cedis.

According to Sgt Boamah, the accused person took cloths hanging in the room, packed the items into the bags and went and hid them in the bush.

He said the convict came to the Swedru market area and hired a taxi cab to convey the items.

On reaching the place, where the items had been kept, the convict alighted from the taxi and entered the bush from where he brought the bags one after the other.

Sgt Boamah said the taxi driver suspected the convict and drove his car straight to the Swedru main lorry park where he informed officials of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU). The secretary on duty at the time quickly informed a policeman who has been detailed to guard the Ghana Commercial Bank, who came and arrested the convict.

The prosecution said when interrogated as to how he came by the items, the convict could not give any tangible reasons to the police, and he was put before court.