Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 18 August 2010

Source: GNA

Labourer in court for stealing mobile phone

Kade, Aug. 18, GNA - The Kade District Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, remanded in prison custody Eric Awuah, a farm labourer, who appeared before it on a charge of stealing a Nokia mobile phone, valued at GHC 56.

He pleaded not guilty and would re-appear before the court on September 19.

Police Detective Inspector Stephen Atsu Gamado, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant, Charity Doe, was a drinking bar operator resident at Akwatia where the accused also resided and worked as a farm labourer.

He said on July 20, at about 1100 hours, Awuah went to the complainant's bar and bought 20 pesewas worth of akpeteshie.

The prosecutor said a few minutes after Awuah had left the bar, the complainant could not find his mobile phone.

The complainant suspected Awuah and later that day confronted him but he denied stealing it.

On July 26, the complainant on hearing that Awuah had been arrested for a mobile phone theft called at the Police Charge office and reported the theft case against him.

When a search was conducted on Awuah at the charge office, the complainant's sim card was retrieved from him.

In his caution statement to the police, Awuah denied the offence and stated among other things that the sim card was given to him by one Michael Oware but when Oware was arrested he denied any knowledge of the sim card.