A Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced John Mensah, a 29 year-old small scale miner, to 48 months imprisonment for stealing six bags of dried cocoa beans valued GH? 2,100.

The convict pleaded guilty to stealing and unlawful entry.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainant, David Manu, is a purchasing clerk and lives at Dompim in the Tarkwa -Nsueam Municipality.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said around 9.00 a.m on November 21, the complainant kept six bags of dried cocoa beans in his shell and left for the farm with his wife.

She said when they returned about 1:00 p.m the bags of cocoa had been stolen.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said the complainant and the wife searched the nearby bush for the bags of cocoa beans but they did not see any trace of them and he so reported to the matter to the police.

The Prosecutor said on November 24, Mensah sold 20 kilos of the cocoa beans to one Kwame Kra for GH? 110.

Chief Inspector Tawiah when Kra opened the bag of cocoa beans, he found that it had been dried but the colour was different from the cocoa beans he had.

She said the witness later had information that the complainant’s six bags of cocoa beans have been stolen.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said on the same day, one Kwame Seth, a second witness, also alerted Kra. that Mensah brought sacks of cocoa beans for him to buy but he suspected they were stolen.

The Prosecutor said both Kra and Seth informed the complainant and they rushed to the police station to lodge a complaint and this led to the arrest of Mensah.