Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 2 September 2004

Source: GNA

Thief jailed 19 years

Asamankese (E/R), Sept 2, GNA - An Asamenkese Circuit Court has sentenced Bismark Awuakye Newlove, a second-hand clothes seller at Asamankese, to 19 years in jail for unlawful entry and stealing. He stole items from three people within four days. He pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Police Chief Inspector Alhassan Amadu, prosecuting, said Newlove stole a cloth seller, Mad. Stella Akoto's 13 full pieces of wax prints valued at 2.340 million cedis and two million cedis cash.

He said on August 15 Newlove broke into Mad Akoto's residence and stole the items and received a seven-year sentence for this offence. In case number two, Newlove stole a travelling bag valued at 80,000 cedis, a pair of slippers valued at 40,000 cedis and the cash of 600,000 cedis belonging to Mr Adamu Amadu.

He received a five-year jail term for this crime committed on the same August 15 night as the first offence.

In the case number three for which he was sent to prison for seven years, the prosecution said Newlove stole a travelling bag containing personal effects valued at 1.5 million cedis, a bundle of electric wire valued at 85,000 cedis, two loud speakers valued at 550,000 cedis, cash of 200,000 cedis and a voter's ID card, all belonging to Mr John Boamah. The Judge, Mr S.S. Appiah, described the accused as "an incorrigible rogue" and said it was a great source of relief that the activities of the criminal had come to an end with his arrest and long sentence.