Drivers' mate jailed six months for stealing cocoa

Sekondi, Jan 19, GNA - A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court on Monday sentenced Emmanuel Ayittey, 28-year-old articulator drivers' mate, to six months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing one maxi bag of dried cocoa beans valued at 562,000 cedis at the Takoradi Harbour.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joe Hedidor, said the accused worked on an articulated truck that convey bags of dried cocoa beans from the depot of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) in Takoradi to the harbour.

He said on January 13 a Police Patrol team intercepted a taxi coming out of the Harbour and one maxi bag of dried cocoa beans was found in the taxi during a search.

The accused person, who claimed ownership of the bag could not give any tangible explanation as to how he came by it, and pleaded with the Police to temper justice with mercy.

During interrogation it came to light that the bag of cocoa was stolen from the depot of PBC where the accused works.

Inspector Hedidor said when contacted, the authorities at PBC said they had detected that 15 bags of dried cocoa beans were missing from the depot.