Asamankese (E/R), June 23, GNA - Kwasi Owusu, unemployed, who stole 143 wrist watches has been sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour by Circuit Court at Asamankese.

Owusu was also fined 600,000 cedis or in default, serve additional six months in jail.

The court also ordered Owusu, who pleaded guilty, to refund one million cedis being the value of 43 of the watches, which were not retrieved to the complainant Mr Ben Abankwaa, or to serve a further 12-month prison term.

Police Inspector J. F. Idan prosecuting, told the court that on June 13, this year, while the complainant was selling the watches in a showcase at Asamankese, he left the showcase with the watches in the care of someone to enable him to attend to nature's call.

Owusu who had earlier bought a watch from him and was closely monitoring the trader's movement and realizing that the caretaker was attending to someone who was buying his own wares, quickly grabbed showcase containing the watches and fled.

When the owner returned and did not se the watches, he started his own enquiries, during which he received information that Owusu was selling some watches in another part of the town.

According the prosecution, a witness who knew Owusu was surprised on seeing him carrying the showcase and caused his arrest.

The Presiding Judge, Mr S. S. Appiah, in passing sentence commended the Good Samaritan for his vigilance and patriotism.