Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Source: GNA

Court fines student for stealing lap top computer

Sunyani, April 22, GNA - A Sunyani Magistrate's court has sentenced James Yeboah 25, a student to 300 Ghana cedis fine for stealing a Toshiba lap top computer and a Nokia mobile phone, all valued about 2,000 Ghana cedis.

He pleaded guilty and would serve nine months imprisonment in default.

Police Sergeant Augustine Oppong, prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah that the complainant was the manageress of Glammossay Hotel at Abesim, near Sunyani whilst the accused claimed to be a student of a private university in Accra. He said on March 4, this year, the accused went to the hotel with an attachment letter from the university to begin an attachment course and was accepted by the management.

The prosecution said two weeks later the complainant detected that her lap top computer and a mobile phone at the reception had been stolen and suspected the accused.

He said the accused after the theft left the hotel and went into hiding until he was spotted by a witness at Abesim but took to his heels and the matter was reported to the police.

The prosecution said police investigations led to his arrest at his hide out and the stolen items retrieved.