14-year-old boy on bail for stealing water meters

A circuit court in Kumasi has granted GH¢3,000 bail with a surety to Alhassan Awudu, 14, for allegedly stealing 17 meters belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited.

Abu Negas, 21, an accomplice, was also granted the same amount of bail for dishonestly receiving the meters.

The two suspects who pleaded guilty to the charges and promised to pay for the meters that valued GH¢850 would re-appear at court on April 17.

Police Chief Inspector E.K. Owusu Manu told the court presided over by Mr. Ernest Yao Obimpe that Awudu a shoe maker and Negas, a scrap dealer both resided in Kumasi.

Prosecution said residents of Abrepo in Kumasi experienced meter thefts and on March 31 this year, Madam Abena Achiaa who detected that her meter had been removed, spotted Awudu in another house stealing a meter.

Chief Inspector Manu said Madam Achiaa raised an alarm leading to the arrest of Awudu who was handed over to the Domestic Violence and Victims' Support Unit in Kumasi.

Prosecution said in his caution statement, Awudu admitted the offence and mentioned Negas as the one who bought them.

Chief Inspector Manu said Awudu led the police to all the 17 houses where he stole the equipment adding that three meters had been retrieved.

The court ordered the police to hand over the retrieved meters to the company.