Pickpocket jailed for 5-years with hard labour

Kumasi, Jan 29, GNA - A 23-year-old porter was on Monday sentenced to five years' imprisonment in hard labour for picking a German football fan at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium during Egypt-Sudan encounter on January 26.

Mumuni Muhazi pleaded guilty to conspiracy and stealing and he was convicted on his own plea.

Alidu Amandi, 35, his accomplice, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and he was remanded to re-appear on February 18, 2008.

Chief Inspector Owusu Manu, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh, that the two were natives of Bawku in the Upper East Region but worked at Krofrom, Kumasi as porters, while the complainant, was an ICT consultant from Germany.

Chief Inspector Manu stated that on January 26, 2008, the complainant, as well as the convict and accused went to the stadium to witness the said match, adding that after the first half, the complainant, who was leaving the stadium, met Mumuni at the entrance.

Mumuni picked him of his passport and Sony-Ericsson mobile phone but he was seen by a witness in the case who alerted the complainant but he quickly passed the items to Amandi.

They took to their heels but luck eluded them when Mumuni was arrested later at the stadium and he mentioned Amandi as an accomplice. A search on them by the policemen revealed the stolen passport but the phone was not found.

They were then handed over to the central police. In their caution statements they admitted the offence and Mumuni stated he had given the phone to one Seidu who is being pursued by the police.

The court ordered for the release of the passport to the complainant