Akim Oda (E/R), Feb. 7, GNA - A Magistrates' Court at Akim Oda, in= the Eastern Region, has sentenced a labourer, Kwaku Obeng, to 29 months imprisonment, in hard labour, for stealing.

Obeng, described by the prosecution as a hardened criminal, is alleged to have stolen GH¢620 from a Fetish Priestess's room, at Akim Aduasa. The Court, presided over by Mr Albert Owusu Annor, convicted Kwaku Obeng on two counts of unlawful entry and stealing.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Kingsley Antwi stated that Obeng is a native of Akim Aduasa and currently lives in Accra, and on January 23, this year, at about 2000 hours, Nana Kesewaa, a Fetish Priestess, also the complainant, returned from her store at Akim Aduasa and left the day's sa= les of GH¢780.00 in her bedroom, but did not lock the door. Inspector Antwi said Nana Kesewaa and her husband later detected that, the hand bag, which contained the money had been tempered with and an amoun= t of GH¢620 missing.

He said on her way to check if she had left the money at the shop, she met a witness in the case, who informed her that he saw the convict coming from the direction of her house. According to the prosecution, since Obeng once stayed with the complainant, but due to his stealing habits was sacked, they strongly suspected him for the stealing.

They therefore organized a search party to apprehend him, but Obeng go= t wind of it and bolted to Accra. He said the complainant made a report to the Akim Swedru Police and also informed her children, who were living in the same area with Obeng in Accra.

He said Nana Kesewaa's children managed to arrest Obeng and handed h= im over to the Kpeshie Police in Accra.