Kumasi, June 10, GNA - Osei Kwabena, a steel bender who lives at Old Tafo in Kumasi was on Thursday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for stealing iron rods worth 40.2 million cedis. He pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea.

Police Chief Inspector Agnes Dinkyini, told the Circuit Court presided over by Mr Essel Mensah, that the complainant in the case owned a storey building at Abrepo in Kumasi, which was gutted by fire, four years ago. Since that time people had been stealing some iron rods from the damaged building. She continued that Yaa Manu, the complainant, therefore started keeping surveillance on her property.

It was through her surveillance that she spotted the accused on June 7 at about 0900 Hrs. carrying away 15 pieces of the rods through the entrance of the building. The complainant then confronted him as to where he was taking the rods to but he quickly threw them away and bolted. He was later apprehended and taken to the police. Kwabena, in his caution statement to the police admitted the offence.