I stole due to ill health - Accused tells court

Juaso (Ash), Jan 25, GNA - A 44-year-old farmer at Atwedie near Juaso in the Asante-Akim South District on Monday gave ill-health as reason for stealing cocoa beans valued at 182,000 cedis. Kwaku Simon, who pleaded guilty to one count of stealing, told the Juaso circuit court that his ill health had rendered him incapable of working hence his resort to stealing.

The accused, who said this ostensibly for leniency was, sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in hard labour.

Police Inspector Benjamin Amoah told the court that both Simon and the complainant were residents of Atwedie.

The complainant, who owns a cocoa farm at Akokofori, had been experiencing theft of his dried cocoa beans on his farm.

On January 11, he informed purchasing clerks in the community to be on the look out for the person who had been stealing his cocoa beans. The same day he received information that Simon was selling the cocoa beans to a purchasing clerk and rushed to the scene leading to his arrest.