Accra, July 14, GNA - A 23 year-old car washer was on Monday sentenced to 18 months in prison with hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court for stealing a Toyota Corolla saloon car. Kwaku Boakye, who was convicted on his own plea, told the court that due to financial problems he was facing in catering for his family he decided to steal and sell the car in order to settle his debts. The court, presided over by Mrs. Georgina Mensah-Datse advised members of the public to be careful of people who worked on their cars, especially if they had to leave the keys with them.

Chief Inspector Mary Adika told the court that the complainant, Mr Frank Agyemang had been sending his car to the washing bay at Sakaman in Accra. The convict, who was working at the washing bay, then hatched a plot to run away with the car at the least opportunity and sell it. Chief Inspector Adika said on July 7, the complainant again sent his car for washing and handed over the key to the convict, while he went to pay his rent. She said when the convict finished washing the car he sped off without the knowledge of owner of the washing bay manager and his co-workers. When the owner of the car returned, neither the car nor the convict was there and after a fruitless search, he made a complaint to the police. The police after intelligence networking apprehended the convict with the car at Akim Oda and brought him to Accra for further investigations.