Kumasi, May 17, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court on Monday sentenced a driver and his mate to 12 months' imprisonment each in hard labour for stealing a taxicab.

Nana Yaw Asare, the driver, and Kwame Antwi, his mate, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Police Chief Inspector Joseph Odjidja told the court presided over by Mr Essel Mensah, that the complainant in the case is the owner of taxicab with registration number AS 8809 Q, driven by one Mr Kojo Kyere. He said on May 14, 2005, after close of work, Mr Kyere parked the car behind the house of the complainant and handed over the keys to him, as had been the normal practice. However, at dawn the next day, it was detected that the taxicab had been stolen.

Police Chief Inspector Odjidja said the police later intercepted the stolen car at Anwiankwanta on the Kumasi-Obuasi road and arrested the accused, who, were occupying it. He said during interrogation they admitted the crime.