Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 15 March 2005

Source: GNA

Farmer fined 1.1 million cedis for stealing firewood

Agogo (Ash.) March 15, GNA- A District Magistrate Court at Agogo in the Asante-Akim North District, has sentenced a 45-year old farmer at Magyeda near Agogo, Ofori Dapaah, to a fine of 1.1 million cedis for stealing firewood.

Dapaah who was convicted on his own plea would in default serve six months in jail.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector P.K. Atatsi told the court that the accused sold a quantity of firewood to the complainant at a cost of 600,000 cedis.

The firewood was left on Dapaah's farm as the complainant left for Agogo to look for a vehicle to convey it. He said the complainant however fell sick and could not go for it. Two weeks later, he went to the farm only to detect that the firewood had been stolen.

When he confronted Dapaah he confessed that he had sold the firewood for 160,000 cedis and pleaded that he should give him time to refund the money.

The court presided over by Mr John Bosco Naberese ordered that 600,000 cedis out of the fine should be paid to the complainant.