A Cape Coast Magistrate's Court on Thursday sentenced three drivers, Baba Jibrine Adama, Kwaku Aboyawkwa and Issah Ibrahim, to a total of 23 months imprisonment in hard labour, for not paying a fine-conviction imposed on them for stealing three goats valued GH¢550 at Abura in the Central Region.

The convicts who pleaded guilty to stealing, were each fined GH¢ 800, or in default, serve 23 months' prison term.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Charles Hevi, told the court presided over by Ms. Mercy Addai Kotei that the complainant, Mr. Kwadwo Arhin, reared goats in his compound but for a period of two weeks, 16 goats were missing from his pen.

Chief Inspector Hevi said, Mr. Arhin therefore planted informants in his vicinity to keep watch, and on Friday, March 21, at about 14:00hrs, he had information that an Actos taxi cab with the inscription “Boys Abre” at the back, was parked behind his house.

The said taxi had one Jibrine as the driver, with Issah and Abeiku holding on to three goats at its back seat.

Chief Inspector Hevi told the court that, Mr. Arhin quickly ran to the scene, saw the vehicle and gave it a hot chase, but the convicts managed to escape with their booty.

Arhin who knew the owner of the car reported the case to him, and later lodged a complaint at the police station.

He said the Police together with the owner of the taxi after several weeks of a search for the car and its driver, found it behind an uncompleted building at Kakumdo with the driver sleeping in it.

Jibrine was arrested and he assisted the Police in arresting the other two who confessed of being the brains behind the theft.