Ex-convict jailed 10 years for stealing

Kumasi, May 17, GNA - A 30-year-old ex-convict, who broke into a room and made away with a number of items, has sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour.

Yaw Opoku, alias 93Abe" pleaded guilty before a Kumasi Circuit Court for stealing, unlawful entry and causing damage.

Police Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei told the court presided over by Mr Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that the complainant, Veronica Amankwaa, is an aunt of the convict and lives at Bohyen in Kumasi.

Opoku recently came out of prison after serving out his sentence for similar offence, and her aunt out of magnanimity offered to get him into a trade but he refused.

On Tuesday, May 7, the complainant detected that her laptop computer was missing and suspecting the nephew of the crime made a formal report to the police.

The prosecution said three days after the convict approached a witness in the case for a pinch bar under the pretext of using the tool to fix his cage.

With this, he went straight to the house of Veronica, broke into her room and stole five bed sheets, a car tape and battery as well as GH¢1,000.00.

Opoku was later found with the stolen car battery and was arrested when he attempted to sell it.

He confessed to stealing all the items, except for the money in his caution statement to the police. The items had been retrieved by the police.