Two fishermen imprisoned for stealing

Two fishermen who stole assorted items from a supply vessel at the Takoradi Port, have been sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment in hard labour by a Takoradi Circuit court.

The convicts are Kofi Duku 30, and John Mensah, 27, while the third accused, Dominic Anderson, 25, who sustained gunshots wounds is on admission at the hospital under police guard awaiting trial.

Duku and Mensah pleaded guilty to illegal entry and stealing.

The two were fined GHc 1, 800 each, however, they could not make payment therefore they were jailed three years each in hard labour.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police Richard Boatey, told the court, presided over by Mrs Rita Doku, that on Sunday, July 19, at about 0345 hours, the convicts who are residents of New Takoradi went into a supply vessel, Maersk Tender, which was anchorage at the Takoradi Port with a canoe and stole one wielding machine, one electrical cutting machine and quantities of electrical cables valued at GHc 8. 000.

However, luck run out for them when they were sailing ashore, the captain of the vessel saw them with the items and reported the theft to the port police patrol team, who gave them a hot chase.

He said the convicts managed to sail away from the port and took refuge at a sea hawk rig near Nkotompo in Sekondi but the patrol team shot at them, and the bullets hit the ankle of Anderson before they surrendered.