THERE was drama at an Obuasi Circuit Court, when an accused person facing a stealing charge told the presiding judge that he (the judge) had made a mistake by sentencing him to five years instead of five months imprisonment.

The accused, Richard Kwabena Quansah, a Hohoe-based designer, pleaded with the court to jail him five months because he was deceived by the devil to commit the offence.

Quansah, 23, said he stole the items, a 20-inch Panasonic colour television, and a 4-system stereo, both valued at ?6.5 million, to raise money to treat his sister’s mental problem.

Chief Inspector Samuel Brown told the crowded court that Quansah, on July 25, boarded a passenger bus from Kumasi to Obuasi, with the complainant, Mr Matthew Tsiquaye, a retired civil servant.

He said at Obuasi, Quansah, who said he was visiting a friend at Kofikrom, could not locate the area and Mr Tsiquaye offered to assist him.

Chief Inspector Brown said after they finally found the so-called friend at Kofikrom, the man denied knowing Quansah.

The prosecutor said Mr Tsiquaye therefore offered to accommodate Quansah for the night.

At about 4 am, the next day, Tsiquaye’s nephew discovered that his uncle’s hall had been ransacked and some items carried away.

The prosecutor said Tsiquaye’s nephew alerted neighbours who quickly combed the area for Quansah without success.

They therefore lodged a complaint with the police.

Quansah was arrested when he attempted boarding a vehicle to Kumasi with the items.