The uncontrollable weeping of Tukui Kulekpeto, a 55-year old commercial driver, at an Aflao Circuit Court eventually won him his freedom.

Kulekpeto had been charged with stealing iron rods belonging to the Diamond Cement Company. He pleaded guilty with explanation.

He said he was hired by two young men to convey the iron rods and did not suspect that they were stolen items.

He said he ran away with the thieves on impulse when security men of the company came towards them but as soon as he came to himself he returned to the scene of the crime and handed himself over to the security men.

Discharging him, the presiding Judge Mr Francis Opoku said: "I have heard your explanation and I would advise you not to allow yourself to be used innocently this way next time. I acquit you, go home. Do not allow young men to drive you into crime at your age."

Kulekpeto, who apparently did not understand what the Judge said, continued to stand in the dock weeping and occasionally wiping his tears with the sleeves of his shirt until he was ushered out.

Prosecuting Police Inspector Kofi Frimpong told the court that at about 0430 hours on January 25, the security men were attracted by the flash of a vehicle headlamp near the factory and they rushed to the point and saw three men running

away leaving behind Peugeot Caravan, with registration number GR 435 D loaded with 44 pieces of iron rods.

Inspector Frimpong said a few minutes later, Kulekpeto handed himself over to the Security men and identified himself as the driver of the vehicle and he was subsequently handed over to the Police.

He said Kulekpeto maintained that he was only hired by the two

unfamiliar men to convey the iron rods and that he did not suspect that they were stolen items.

The Prosecution said Kulekpeto told the Police that he had ran with those who hired him on impulse.

Earlier the court had sentenced John Venyezu Metenu, 28, a Togolese Welder and employee of company, to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a packet of electrodes valued at 140,000 cedis.