Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 21 October 2020

Source: GNA

Television serial number exposes thief

Yaw Opoku was remanded by the Ashanti Bekwai Circuit Court Yaw Opoku was remanded by the Ashanti Bekwai Circuit Court

An unemployed man who allegedly stole a flat-screen television (TV) set got exposed when the real owner spelt out its serial number.

Yaw Opoku, who has been remanded by the Ashanti Bekwai Circuit Court, denied entering the room of the complaint's father where the set was.

He was ordered to come back to the Court on October 29.

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Ofori told the Court presided over by Mr Marc Diboro Tirimah that Noble Osei Owusu, the complainant, was a teacher and resident of Mmrontuo-Abodom, and a neighbour to the accused person.

He said the complainant bought Akai flat-screen TV for his father and that a few months later, his father fell sick and was sent to Offinso to receive treatment.

He said the Oldman's room was locked up but was periodically tidied up by his granddaughter.

Detective Chief Inspector Ofori said on Monday, October 12, 2020, at about 0900 hours at Mmrontuo, the granddaughter (complainant's niece), went to the room to tidy up, where she realized that the padlock to the room had been broken.

The prosecution said she found out that the 32 inch TV Akai flat screen had been stolen.

The girl then called his uncle, the complainant, on phone to find out if he had come for the TV.

The prosecution said based on the information, the complainant rushed to Mmrontuo where his investigation led to the discovery that Yaw Opoku was the culprit.

Detective Chief Inspector Ofori said the complainant, therefore, went to the accused person's room where he was found watching a programme on it. An argument ensued between the two over the ownership of the set. Opoku insisted that the TV belonged to him.

The complainant in the presence of witnesses then showed him the TV's serial number stored on his phone.

He said the accused, realising that the serial number matched that of the TV, attempted to run leading to a struggle between the two, resulting in the breaking of the TV screen.

The prosecution said the accused was overpowered, arrested and sent to the Police with the television.