A circuit court in Takoradi on Wednesday sentenced two unemployed ex-convicts to five years imprisonment in hard labour each for stealing rail coaches ceiling fans. Sampson Baidoo, 22, and Ernest Cudjoe, 28, pleaded guilty.

Inspector Yusif Yakubu told the court presided over by Mr. Kwasi Boakye that in June, a police officer stationed at the Takoradi Railway and Port Police Station spotted the convicts loading two sacks into a taxi.

The court heard that when the police officer wanted to know what was in the sacks, they said they contained scraps which they bought at Kojokrom.

Insp. Yakubu said, not convinced with the disclosure, the police officer searched the sacks and found the fans, valued at GH?121, 115.

The prosecution said police investigations revealed that the fans were removed from railway coaches that were parked at the Takoradi Railway Station.**