A mason who appeared before the Tarkwa Circuit Court for unlawfully entering the Elim Glorious Church at Wassa Dompim near Bawdie in the Wassa Amenfi East constituency has been fined GH¢3,600.

Thomas Bukuro, alias Paa Kwesi, 22, was charged with causing unlawful damage and unlawful entry, and in default of the fine, he would serve a five-year jail sentence on each count to run concurrently.

Prosecuting Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor told the court, presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, that the complainant, who is a steel bender and a member of the Elim Glorious Church, was a resident of Dompim, while Bukuro was from Wassa Bawdie.

The prosecution said for some time now, the complainant and his church members had been experiencing theft in the chapel, and all efforts made by them to apprehend the culprits had proven futile.

He said the thieves on several occasions made away with instruments such as a speaker, combo, microphone, mixture amplifier, and an unspecified amount of money.

The prosecution said on April 4, 2024, at about 13:50 hours, the complainant was working close to his chapel building when he heard an unusual noise coming from the church premises.

He said the complainant hurriedly proceeded to the area, went around the building, and detected that the wooden window valued at GH¢300 had been broken by an unknown person.

The prosecution said the complainant peered through the window and saw that Bukuro had hidden himself under a table in the church, and he raised an alarm that attracted other people, and they succeeded in arresting him and handing him over to the Bawdie police.

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said Bukuro admitted the offence in his investigation caution statement and later led the police to the crime scene, where they found an Infinix Hot 7 Plus mobile phone and a pair of slippers belonging to the accused person, and the items were retrieved.