Tarkwa (W/R), Sept 12, GNA - A 29-year-old driver, Eric Appiah, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment in hard labour by a Tarkwa circuit court for stealing a taxi.

He pleaded guilty.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Albert Adiita told the court that the complainant engaged the services of one George Ampong to drive his taxi.

On September 30, 2008, Ampong fell sick and gave the taxi to the convict to work with it for the day but he failed to return the d taxi at the close of the day and went into hiding.

He could not be traced for three weeks until information reached the complainant that his taxi had been spotted at a garage at Odorkor in Accra owned by one Frank Ofosu.

The complainant contacted Ofosu who stated that the Appiah pulled up at his garage and pledged the taxi for a loan of 800 Ghana cedis.

The convict claimed he needed the money to send his father to the Okomfo Anorkey Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for treatment but failed to refund the money to collect his taxi.

A report was lodged with the police at Odorkor and Ofosu was arrested and the taxi retrieved.

The convict was spotted on August 24 in Kumasi and he was arrested.