Crime & Punishment of Friday, 28 December 2012

Source: GNA

Illegal miner thief jailed for unlawful entry

The Magistrate Court One in Tarkwa has sentenced a 28-year-old illegal miner, Abass Ago, to four years imprisonment for entering the house of a trader for unlawful purpose.

He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Faustina Selestina Anaman told the court presided over by Madam Juliana Millicent Ocran that on Wednesday October 24, at about 1450 hours, the convict was spotted at Jerusalem a suburb of Tarkwa about 200 meters from the complainant's house by her next door neighbor.

She said the neighbor who suspected he was a thief, drew the complainant's attention but after she had watched him closely for a while she left the house in her private car to pick her children from school.

According to Inspector Anaman, as soon as the complainant left the house, the convict entered her premises and the neighbor who was monitoring him, immediately called the complainant on phone and informed her.

The Prosecutor said the complainant returned home only to meet the convict in the house and when she asked him his mission in the house he told her he was part of the team that constructed the house and that he had been sent by the mason, one Kwame, to complete some work in the house.

Inspector Anaman said Abass was arrested and sent to the police station where he was detained.

She said after thorough investigation the convict was charged with the offense of entering for unlawful purpose before the court.