Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 10 August 2004

Source: GNA

Farmer fined for goat theft

Ejisu (Ash), Aug 10, GNA - A magistrate's court at Ejisu on Friday fined a 33-year-old farmer of Asiwa, two million cedis for conspiracy to steal and stealing a goat.

Osei Kwabena, who pleaded guilty to the charges, will serve a 24-month prison term in default.

A second accused person, Kwame Kennedy, also a farmer, was, however, discharged by the court when Osei Kwabena confessed to intentionally implicating him.

Police Chief Inspector A.K. Danquah told the court presided over by Mr Noble Nkrumah that at about 10.30 hours on July 24, this year, one Paa Kwasi saw Osei Kwabena carrying a goat and heading towards the bush. He said Paa Kwasi rushed to inform Mr Maxwell Atia, Unit Committee Chairman at Asiwa.

Chief Inspector Danquah said together with some other persons, the Unit Committee Chairman managed to trace the accused to the bush and arrested him with the stolen goat.

He said after subjecting him to severe thrashing, Osei Kwabena mentioned Kwame Kennedy as his accomplice but had to confess in court that he only implicated Kennedy to save him from further beating.