Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Source: Citifmonline
Court jails teenager for stealing
John Mark, an 18–year- old illegal miner (Galamsey operator) has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Magistrate s Court in Cape Coast for stealing a laptop and a canon digital camera. He pleaded guilty to stealing the items valued at GH¢ 2,945 from his friend’s home.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Charles Anku told the court presided over by Ms Mercy Adei Kotei that Mark is a friend to Mr Appiah Kubi, the complainant.
He said on Friday March 8, Mark went to the complainant’s house and while the family was having their meals, he took a walk around the house and spotted the laptop and a digital camera in a room.
Inspector Anku said Mark cut the mosquito net at the back of the window, entered the room and picked up the laptop valued at GH¢ 1,900 and the digital camera valued at GH¢ 1,045 and bolted away.
The prosecutor said the convict went into hiding at Moree but the complainant had a tip off and reported the case to the Central Regional Police Command at Pedu, leading to his arrest.
He denied knowledge of the stolen items when he was interrogated by the police but a search around his hiding place led to their discovery.
Mark confessed to the crime while being sent to court and also attempted to escape in handcuffs.
