Tepa (Ash), July 2, GNA - A Tepa Circuit Court has sentenced Stephen Kyei, a 22 year-old apprentice-mechanic based in Kumasi, to 60 months' imprisonment in hard labour for stealing a motorcycle.

Kyei pleaded not guilty but was convicted on evidence by the court presided over by Mr Justice Richard Kiya Hinidza.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Prosper Yao Aheto told the court that on July 17, 2002, the accused broke into the Tepa Office of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) and stole two Yamaha motorcycles.

He said the accused abandoned one of the motorcycles at the outskirts of Tepa and attempted to escape with one but was arrested at Bechem Junction barrier by the Police on duty.

He said while the Police were giving him a chase, some unidentified men in a taxicab ahead of the motorcycle fired at them. When the Police returned fire, Kyei was hit in the leg.

Kyei abandoned the motorcycle and run into a near by bush but the Police spotted him and arrested him.

Salifu Frimpong and Kwadwo Addo, who were named by the accused as his accomplices, are on the run.