General News of Monday, 28 May 2001

Source: Joy Online

Two Jailed For Theft At Asantehene's Secretariat

Two persons, Samuel Quaye, 20 a sign writer and Kwasi Yeboah 23, second-hand shoe seller were last Friday sentenced to five years imprisonment each for the recent burglary at the Secretariat of the Asantehene (king of the Ashanti kingdom).

They broke into the secretariat and made away with 68 pieces of assorted clothes including Kente, Kuntunkuni (mourning cloth) and wax prints worth millions Cedis. The stolen items belonged to a relative of the Asantehene.

They pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to steal and unlawful entry.

Eight others who either bought or received some of the stolen items are to appear before the tribunal on June 18.

They were charged with dishonestly receiving.

The robbers on May 4 broke into the secretariat and made away with the assorted clothes.

After the burglary, they gave the items for safe keeping with one Patrick Opoku who was later given a piece of the mourning cloth for a good work done.

The two then took the rest of the stolen items away and sold the rest at very cheap prices.