A 24-year-old Nigerien national, who has lived in Ghana for the past two years and was serving a one-year jail term at the Winneba Local Prison, broke down in tears after a philanthropic group paid the fine imposed on him by the court, securing his release.

The Nigerien, who worked as a scrap dealer, was fined GH¢4,800 by the court after he was found guilty of purchasing stolen goods from a student.

According to him, he bought the scrap items for GH¢250, unaware that they were stolen.

He narrated that after meeting the seller and purchasing the items, people around suddenly began shouting “thief, thief,” which caused the seller to flee, leaving him behind.

“When the people surrounded me, I then realised that the items did not belong to the person who sold them to me,” he said.

He explained that an elderly woman reported him to the police in Winneba, leading to his arrest.

“Ghana is good. Nobody has worried me or given me trouble before. I came to Ghana with my brother, but when he heard that I had been arrested and taken to the police station, he ran away,” he stated.

He further revealed that the brother he was living with fled with his savings.

“The small money I was making, I used to save it with my brother, but when this issue happened, he ran away with it,” he added.

According to him, his parents in Nigerien are unaware that he has been in prison and he does not want them to know because of the emotional stress it could cause them.
“If my mother knows that I am here, she will be worried. If she knows I am in prison, it can affect her health,” he said.

Meet Bishop James Sam who is serving a two-year, two-month prison sentence for stealing

He advised others to stay with their parents in their home countries.

“I will advise anyone who is thinking of leaving their parents to reconsider. When you leave your parents, you may face trouble. For me, when I left my parents, I faced problems,” he lamented.

After the discussion, the Crime Check Foundation revealed to him that his fine had been fully paid and that he was now a free man and could leave the prison.

Upon hearing the news, he broke down in uncontrollable tears, overwhelmed with emotion.



AM

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