Asamankese, May 29, GNA - Kwaku Essel and his friend Kwaku Gomado stole 20 goats on a night of goats stealing operation on December 26 last year but Gomado was arrested and Essel escaped.

Gomado on being put before the Asamankese Circuit court pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years imprisonment in hard labour. Essel was arrested on April 25 and is facing the court on a charge of conspiracy to steal and stealing.

He pleaded guilty with explanation but following his explanation the judge, Mr Kofi Akrowiah, entered a plea of not guilty for him and was granted bail in the sum of 1,000 Ghana cedis with one surety to be certified by the police to reappear on June 16.

Police Chief Inspector Joseph Idan told the court that on December 27 last year six persons reported to the police that 20 of their goats were stolen.

It turned out later that Gomado visited Essel at Asamankese and conspired with him to steal goats at Mepom.

Mr Idan said at Mepom, they went from house to house catching goats, twisted their necks and put them in sacks. They boarded a vehicle bound for Accra but they could not pay the driver. He drove them to the Achimota police station but Essel escaped and Gomado was arrested. During interrogation, Gomado confessed to the crime and told the police that that was the third time they had conveyed stolen goats to Accra for sale at Chorkor.