Tarkwa (W/R), Mar. 1, GNA - A Tarkwa circuit court last Friday sentenced Esi Akyere, 38, a labourer to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour for setting fire into the room of her ex-boyfriend at Brahabebome, a village near Tarkwa.

Giving the facts of the case, Police Superintendent Slim Manford of the Tarkwa Divisional Police told the court that, the accused had been in a relationship with Yaw Antwi alias Taller, a mason and they have been living together at Brahabebome for some time now. Superintendent Manford said the relationship turned sour some weeks ago.

He said on February 16, this year, a misunderstanding ensued between them over a pair of jeans trousers, which the accused was alleged to have stolen from Antwi's room.

The prosecutor added that, in the heat of the quarrel, Antwi collected the personal effects of the accused on the pretext of setting them on fire if she failed to produce the trousers. Antwi then folded the items and sent them to an unknown destination leaving the accused in the room.

Superintendent Manford said, Antwi returned later and saw a thick smoke coming from his room and when the door of the room was forced opened with the help of some co-tenants they saw the room engulfed with fire.

He added that the fire extended to a co-tenants' room, causing extensive damage to his personal belongings including that of his wife and children which was estimated at 24 million cedis. Police investigations revealed that Akyere maliciously and unlawfully set the room on fire.