Tarkwa, (W/R) May 12, GNA- Stephen Kwateng, a 21 year-old auto mechanic was on Thursday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing a Toyota Hilux Pick-up valued at 150 million cedis. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced accordingly.

Chief Inspector Joseph Yaw Apaloo of the Tarkwa Police told the court, presided over by Mr John Ajet-Nasan that the complainant, Mr Gyesi Wilfred Arthur a welder resides at New Atuabo a suburb of Tarkwa whiles the accused lives at Breanuakyim also a suburb of Tarkwa.

Chief Inspector Apaloo said on May eight this year, the complainant went to Breauakyim where he spent the night and parked his car close to the Breauakyim Public toilet. The next morning, he woke up to realise that the car had been stolen.

The prosecutor said the complainant reported the matter to the police whiles announcement was also made on the radio. Not quite long, the police had a tip-off from Nzima Asaasetre near Nkrofo that a car similar to what they were looking for had been spotted there.

He said the police proceeded to the place and managed to arrest the accused at his hide out at Eziama and he led the police to a village called Azileluana where he had hidden the car. The accused later told the police that he used a master key on the car and deliberately removed the number plates to avoid detection.