Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Source: GNA

Three in court for stealing

Three persons Lloyd Andam, Labourer, 27, Enoch Ako, Porter, 27, and Emmanuel Ako, Electrician 31, on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for causing unlawful harm, stealing and dishonestly receiving.

Lloyd was charged for causing unlawful harm and three counts of stealing, while Enoch and Emmanuel were charged for dishonestly receiving.

Lloyd was said to have caused unlawful damage to a room 208 door of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), worth GH?1,500.00, and stole one Toshiba Laptop, Sony Laptop worth GH?32,000.00, two HP computers worth GH?5,900.00, one Apple I Pad worth GH?2,900.00, one laptop bag worth GH?80.00, all belonging to the MoF.

He was also said to have stolen one DSTV walker worth GH?600.00 belonging to one Dennis Ofori.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced by the court to pay a fine of GH?600.00 or in default serve a sentence of 60 days imprisonment on the charge of causing harm.

The court also sentenced Lloyd to 15 months imprisonment each on all three counts of stealing to run concurrently.

Enoch and Emmanuel both pleaded not guilty to the charges. Enoch was granted bail in the sum of GH?8,000.00 with two sureties, while Emmanuel was granted bail in the sum of GH?3,000.00 with one surety.

According to the court, each surety is to present a valid photo ID and the investigator is to verify the occupational and residential address of each surety by hand. The court also ordered that the items are to be returned after photographs are taken.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Sophia Ennim, said the complainants Dennis Ofori and George Afriyie work with the MoF, while Lloyd is a Labourer with the Ministry and Enoch and Emmanuel are siblings.

She said on November 15, at about 20:00 hours, the complainant Dennis went to his office to work when he detected that his DSTV walker, Sony laptop computer, two HP laptop computers, Apple I pad, laptop bag all belonging to the ministry were stolen.

She said on November 17, at about 09:30 hours the complainant George Afriyie also went to his office and observed that his door was damaged and a Toshiba laptop computer was stolen.

According to the prosecution, Dennis through SKYP met Eric Abayatey, now at large who disclosed the cell phone number of Enoch as the one who sold the said items to him.

She told the court that Dennis together with the police lured Enoch leading to his arrest, and a Sony laptop computer as well as the Apple I pad were retrieved from him.

ASP Ennim said Lloyd was also pointed out to the police by Enoch as the one who sold all the items to him and he was also arrested. In his caution statement he admitted that he stole the items and sold the Toshiba Laptop computer to Emmanuel.

She said on November 18, Enoch led police to the scene at the ministry and demonstrated how he entered the complainants’ office. Enoch and Emmanuel also admitted in their caution statement admitted that they dishonestly received the items from Lloyd.