The Nyinahin Magistrate Court has sentenced a farmer to a fine of GH¢2,800.00 for theft and assault.

Joel Awuni, 25, was also ordered to pay an additional amount of GH¢1,650.00 as compensation or serve 720 days in prison.

He was convicted for stealing a cellular phone and assaulting a taxi driver.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police Inspector Daniel Otabil told the court presided over by Mr Sam Nibi that the convict and the complainants, Fati Alhassan, and Haruna Mohammed, a driver, all live at Nyinahin in the Atwima-Mponua District.

On August 18, last year, Awuni pleaded with Fati to allow him to make a call from her cellular phone and she obliged.

After the call, he refused to return the phone and all attempts to get him to surrender it, failed.

She then reported the matter to the convict’s father, who promised to replace it but reneged.

The prosecution said about two weeks later Fati together with her husband and Haruna went to Awuni’s house to demand the return of the phone. Again, he would not be bothered.

The couple therefore asked Haruna to stay back and keep watch over Awuni as they made their way to the police station to make a formal report.

Immediately they left, Awuni picked a big stick and hit Haruna hard with it sending him crashing to the ground.

He fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital where he was kept on admission for three days.

Awuni was arrested by the police.