The Half-Assini Magistrate court in the Western Region on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old mason to 18 months imprisonment without option of fine, for stealing a motorbike valued at GHC1,800.
[contextly_sidebar id=”6c6dHThSI5YC60N4ox1GeE6vWT4RHDiF”]Passing the sentence, the Magistrate, Abdul Majid Illiasu, said the stealing of motorbikes in the area has become rampant and must be addressed with all seriousness it deserves.
Michael Asante Yeboah was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime to wit stealing during the month long trial.
He pleaded guilty with explanation but the court entered a plea of not guilty for him on April 11 2015, and accordingly remanded him into Police custody till his re-appearance last Friday.
Police Sergeant Isaac Ebo Otoo, the prosecutor, said the complainant in the case is Braimah Amadu, from Adusuazo, near Half-Assini and a student of Cape Coast University in the Central Region while the accused is a mason from Half-Assini.
He said the accused and one Kaku, unemployed, from Adusuazo, now at large, are friends.
The prosecutor said Kaku noticed that complainant parks his Apsonic motorbike in front of his house at Adusuazo, and on April 7, 2015, when he parked it, they went for it about 0100 hour.
He said upon a tip-off, the complainant and witnesses in the case proceeded to Apolonu, a border town between Ghana and Cote D’ivoire, about 20 kilometres West of Half-Assini in the afternoon of April 8, 2015, where they found the accused and Kaku pushing the motorbike to the village.
According to Sergeant Otoo, the accused and his accomplice upon spotting the complainant and his friends abandoned the motorbike and dashed into the bush.
Yeboah was however arrested and sent to the Half-Assini Police station with the motorbike where a formal complaint was lodged against him.
He said accused however denied the offence in his caution statement but after investigation charged with the offence.
The court has given the motorbike to its owner.
Source: GNA