Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 24 September 2016

Source: ultimatefmonline.com

Two jailed 4 years for stealing 30 donkeys

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Two persons involved in separate thefts at Tumu in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region, have been jailed a total of four years for stealing about 30 donkeys.

Seidu Lukman and Amidu Bataklia were convicted on their own plea of guilt by a magistrate court after being arraigned by the Tumu police for their involvement in the stealing of 30 donkeys.

According to ASP Ayensu William, the Sissala East Divisional Police Commander, the duo is among a gang of donkey and sheep stealing syndicate in the area following several complaints from residents.

A third accused person is said to be on the run and being sought after by the police to help unravel the faces behind the stealing syndicate.

Balu Mohammed of Tumu-based Radford FM, who has been following the case, explained that the convicts usually tie the donkey straying in the township at the outskirt against trees and later drive them on the blind side of the owners for sale in another community.

Luck however eluded them when on the day of their arrest, a police patrol team spotted Seidu Lukman in the act and when he was confronted he confessed to stealing the animals.

He was arrested but later mentioned those with whom he perpetuates the act with leading to the arrest of the second accused.

Revealing their modus operandi, he said the donkey are usually parked and transported out of town to destinations within the upper west region where they are sold for Two Hundred and Fifty Ghana cedis each.

The police stated that between 20 and 30 donkeys have been stolen and sold out from the community in the last three months.