Kade, March 4, GNA - A head porter, Francis Yeboah, was on Friday sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Kade District Magistrate Court for stealing a mobile phone belonging to newspaper vendor. Yeboah who pleaded not guilty was additionally ordered to compensate the phone owner, Amma Jane, with GH¢240 being the cost of the stolen phone.

Police Inspector Francis Cobbina, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Abdul Majid Iliasu that on January 20 at about 0800 hours, Yeboah went to the complainant's news stand to buy a paper but met her absence.

He said Yeboah was then directed to the complainant's house by the complainant's younger sister. Having met the complainant in her house, Yeboah bought his paper and l= eft. The prosecutor said moments later, the complainant remembered that she had left her Nokia mobile phone in her kitchen which was in front of her house and when she went there to look for it, she discovered that the item was missing. The complainant instantly suspected Yeboah and started looking for him but he was nowhere to be found. The prosecutor said days later at about 0900 hours, Yeboah went to the complainant's house again to buy a paper where he was spotted and arrested by the complainant and sent to the police station where a report was made.

After investigation Yeboah was charged with the offence. In his defence, Yeboah said if he was the one who stole the phone he would not have gone to that place again. But in his judgement, Mr Iliasu said all evidence pointed to Yeboah as the one who stole the phone. The magistrate said criminologists had it that criminals often visited scenes of crimes for variety of reasons and the fact that he went to the newsstand again was not enough to exonerate him. 04 March 11