Hohoe, Mar. 24, GNA - A 19-year old driver's mate was on Monday slammed a five-year prison sentence by the Hohoe Circuit Court for stealing 160,000 CFA francs and 55,000 cedis belonging to a soldier.

Kwasi Obeng who pleaded guilty to stealing was said to have entered the room of the soldier at Katanga in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region who had gone to visit his relatives on his return from a peace-keeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire.

Prosecuting, Detective Inspector Sam Gbedemah told the court, presided over by Mr Utter Dery that Obeng took advantage of the absence of the soldier and entered his room to steal the money. According to the Prosecutor, the soldier arrived at Katanga after his mission at Cote d'Ivoire.

During his absence, Obeng entered his room and stole the money after which he bolted.

Inspector Gbedemah said information was sent to nearby towns, which led to the arrest of Obeng when he wanted to change the CFA into cedis at Asukorkor.