SIX years jail for stealing mobile phones

Kumasi, Nov. 12, GNA - A Kumasi circuit court has sentenced a 19-year old boy to six years imprisonment for stealing two mobile phones and a cash of GH¢1,000 belonging to a taxi driver.

Julius Atumba, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was convicted on his own plea.

Police Chief Inspector Archibald Kwesi Fandoh, prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoh-Yartey that the complainant, Hamza Ali, a driver is the convict's neighbour, who lives at Anwiam in Kumasi.

He said the two have a good relationship to the extent that Atumba could sleep in Ali's house as well as help him wash his taxi cab. The prosecution explained that, the complainant attended his father's funeral on October 30, 2008 leaving his wife (Portia) behind, two days after, Atumba went to the house whilst she was getting ready to visit her mother at Race Course.

Chief Inspector Fandoh said the convict together with the complainant's wife, left the house but he later sneaked back to their room and made away with the cash and a Motorola phone valued GH¢30. When Portia returned, she found out the room had been ransacked, and on her way to inform her mother at about 2100 hours she was attacked by Atumba, who took away her Nokia Phone at the cost of GH¢50. The complainant then made a formal report to the Oforikrom Police Station leading to Atumba's arrest.

At the police station, a witness, Abubakari Adamu told the police that he together with the landlord arrested Atumba on the day he ransacked the room, saying that an amount of GH¢560 was found on him (being part of the GH¢1,000) but he was set free when it was agreed that he would refund the total amount.

Upon interrogation, he admitted the offence and confessed using the money on clothes whereas he sold the phones at GH¢7. The police then charged and arraigned him.