Regional News of Sunday, 23 November 2003

Source: GNA

Driver before court for stealing master's stool regalia

Elmina, Nov 23, GNA - Christian Abakah, a 22-year-old driver at Komenda, who allegedly stole his master's valuables and later raised the alarm that thieves had carried out the crime, was on Friday granted 11 million cedis bail by a magistrate's court at Elmina.

Abakah pleaded not guilty and is to re-appear on December 12. The case for the prosecution was that on August 15 this year, Abakah's master, one Nana Nyarko, a businessman and Akwamuhene of the Komenda traditional area, based in Accra, visited home.

The prosecution said two days later, Abakah sought permission and was granted three days to go to Accra to enable him perform some personal chores.

Abakah, however, overstayed by five days, and called Nana Nyarko to tell him that he was returning to Komenda, but his master asked him not to, since he himself was on his way to Accra.

He however disobeyed the order, returned to Komenda, collected the keys to Nana Nyarko's house from the caretaker, stole kente cloths and stool regalia worth 11 million cedis and returned to Accra.

When the driver and his master went back to Komenda on August 28, and the master asked him to send some items they had brought from Accra to the house, Abakah went in only to return to inform his master that the house had been burgled.

A report was made to the police and Abakah was arrested after investigations, the prosecution added.