Kumasi, May 23, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced a 22-year-old driver's mate, Akwasi Adusei, to five years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing church equipment and other items worth over 50 million cedis.

Adusei pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing and pleaded for leniency.

His accomplice, one Musah, is at large.

Police Chief Inspector R.K. Akoto told the court that on May 15, Adusei and Musah defied a heavy downpour, went to the premises Evangelical Friends Chapel located at Odeneho Kwadaso and stole musical equipment and set of choir robes and put them in sacks. They brought the items to the roadside to find a vehicle to convey the booty to their destination but no vehicle showed up. Musah went to look for a vehicle and when he was not showing up, Adusei stopped a taxicab and parked the items in it.

The driver suspected the accused, drove straight to the Kejetia police post and handed him to the police.