A 27 year-old mason, Japhta Sampson, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing an amount of 720 Ghana cedis.

He pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainant, Yaw Dickson, a trader, sells clothing at the Tarkwa Railway Line and reside at New Atuabo.

She said on December 1, this year, the complainant kept 720 Ghana cedis realized from his weekend sales in his bag with the intension to deposit at the bank the following day.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said on that same day, Sampson approached the complainant for a place to sleep and he agreed to spend the night with him in his room.

She said while the complainant was fast asleep, Sampson woke up and searched for the bag of the complainant and stole the 720 Ghana cedis and absconded to an unknown destination.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said when the complainant got up he detected the theft and all effort made by him to reach the accused on his mobile phone did not yield any positive results.

The Prosecutor said on December 5 the complainant had a tip-off that Sampson was hiding at a guest house with his girlfriend at Huni/Valley.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said the complainant mobilized some men and had the convict arrested and was brought to the Tarkwa police station where he made a formal complain.

According to the Prosecutor, Sampson, in his cautioned statement, admitted that he stole only 260 Ghana cedis from the complainant to settle his debt and not 720 Ghana cedis as he was claiming.