Cape Coast, April 2, GNA- A circuit court judge in Cape Coast, on Friday gave a 19-year-old thief an opportunity to reform, and bonded him- to be of good behaviour for 18 months, for stealing a camera valued at 300,000 cedis. Ebenezer Carthy, an apprentice carpenter, pleaded guilty and would go to jail for nine months if he defaults.

Passing sentence, the presiding judge, Mr Mustapha Logoh, observed that he had taken into consideration the fact that Carthy "was a first offender and very young and could become a hardened criminal if he was given a custodial sentence". "Our prisons have ceased to be places of character reformation, and have become places of character corruption" the court said.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Hope Azasoo, told the court that on March 25, this year, at about 1230 hours one madam Cecilia Asante, had information that thieves had broken into her room at Idan, a suburb of Cape Coast. She rushed home and detected that her room had been ransacked and her camera valued at 300,000 cedis was missing.

She conducted her own enquiries and found out that Carthy was the one who broke into her room, and the next day, he was found around the vicinity and was arrested. On interrogation he admitted the offence, the prosecution said.