Francis Akati, 20, unemployed, has appeared before a Ho Circuit Court for stealing items worth GHC8,650.00 from residents at Sokode Lokoe near Ho in the Volta Region.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in prison custody to reappear on Monday, July 17.

The Court presided over by Madam Priscilla Dikro was told that the complainants were businessmen and neighbours who woke up on June 12, 2017, to the realisation that thieves had broken into their respective homes and stolen their belongings.

A complainant, Liberty Hoenyeame claimed that the accused made away with his 42 inches Philips flat screen television valued at GHC1,800.00, another complainant Kofi Gyasi; alleged his LED television valued at GHC2,800.00 was stolen, and a third complainant Luther Mawunyo also said his two Infinix mobile phones, HP, and Toshiba laptops all valued at GHC4050.00 were stolen.

The Court heard that a closed circuit camera (CCTV) installed in the house of Luther Mawunyo captured the accused loitering around the house at about 0200 hours with a metal cutter on the night of the incident.

On July 4, 2017, accused person was arrested and confirmed the image in the CCTV footage to be his and claimed he stole the television sets of Hoenyeame, and Bright Gyasi and had sold them to one Gbavor.

Suspect Gbavor had since gone into hiding but police in Ho retrieved the television sets from his room, the Court was told.

The accused denied stealing the other items and pleaded “not guilty” to all six charges of unlawful entry, and stealing.