Mpraeso, Aug. 12, GNA- A Circuit Court at Mpraeso has imposed a total fine of 2.5 million cedis on five students of the Nkwatia Presbyterian Secondary/Commercial School (NKWASEO), for stealing 3.5 million cedis and various items worth 3.7 million cedis, belonging to school.

They were also bonded to be of good behaviour for 12 months with two sureties each or in default go to jail for one year. The students who pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawful entry, causing damage and stealing, were Felix Ghartey, 22, Mark Asamoah Boateng, 19, Dominic Agyei, 18, Nana Yaw Asamoah, 18, all final year students and Osei Kofi, 19, a second-year day student of the school. The Court presided over by Mr Kwabena Assumang-Adu also ordered that the fine, if paid, and any items that would be retrieved should be returned to the school.

Police Chief Inspector, Alex Gyamera Acheampong told the court that on March 28, this year, the five students broke into the office of the senior house master of the NKWASEO, Nana Awere, in the night and stole 3.5 million cedis and a quantity of receipt books, two "walkman" cassette recorders and other documents all valued at 3.7 million cedis. The prosecutor said after sharing the booty, the students decided to set fire to the documents behind the house of Osei. Unfortunately for them, a watchman of the educational institution caught them in the act and reported the matter to the school authorities and Osei was arrested.

Chief Insp Acheampong said Osei mentioned the names of the other colleagues as culprits and when a search was conducted on all the students, 1.820 million cedis and the two cassette recorders were found. Passing sentence, Mr Assumang-Adu said the court was lenient with the students because of their ages and advised them to be of good behaviour after paying the fines and complying with their bonds.