Offinso (Ash), Oct. 29, GNA - The Offinso Circuit Court on Wednesday sentenced Pius Poku Boateng, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Kwabre West Constituency of Ashanti, to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour for double registration. Boateng, a teacher, who was arrested on Monday following a report by Mr Emmanuel Addai, Kwabre District Electoral Officer, pleaded guilty and was convicted on his plea.

The Court, presided over by Justice Osei Kwame, said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other people, who planned to indulge in electoral malpractice.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Essah Boanu, Offinso District Police Commander, said the Police had a report that Boateng, who was contesting the Kwabre West Constituency seat on the ticket of the NDC, had done double registration.

Based on the report, he was arrested and upon investigation it was detected that he had registered at the Roman Catholic Primary School Polling Station in Nkukua-Buoho in the Kwabre West Constituency and had also registered at the Patase Chief's Palace Polling Station in the Afigya-Sekyere West Constituency with the same pictures and names. But while he gave his age as 55 at Nkukua-Buoho, he said he was 54 years old at Patase, near Nkwantakese.