Breman Asikuma(C/R), Nov. 03, GNA - Kojo Mensah 20, a former student of Besease Nankase Senior Secondary School was on Monday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour on his own plea by a Breman Asikuma Magistrate's court for stealing dried cocoa beans. Police Chief Inspector Gershon Awuyeh, prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr Akwasi Asiedu Asmah that on October 8, this year, the complainant and brother to the accused Opanyin Kwasi Mensah left his dried cocoa beans secured and went to bed.

He said the following day, the complainant detected that someone had stolen some of the cocoa beans and confronted the accused but he denied any knowledge about the theft.

The prosecution said the complainant during a search for the thief went to the local Cocoa Purchasing Centre, where he was informed that the accused had sold cocoa beans weighing 30 kilograms to the centre earlier in the day.

He said the complainant reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.