Carpenter Steals Community Laptop Computers

Hohoe (V/R), May 15, GNA - Mawuli Kofitse, carpenter at Santrokofi in the Volta Region has been put before court for stealing two Toshiba laptop computers valued at GH¢3,000 belonging to the local school.

Kofitse pleaded not guilty to stealing and was admitted to a bail of GH¢3,000 with two sureties.

He will reappear in court on May 29, this year.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector, Mr Emmanuel Kpodo, told the Hohoe Circuit Court presided over by Mr Edward Apenkwa, that some American guests of the Santrokofi community donated the laptops with accessories in July 2008, to the community, which was later presented to the local Junior High School.

He said between September and October 2008, Kofitse was tasked to mend some broken down doors, which he obliged.

Inspector Kpodo said sometime later, Kofitse informed a witness in the case that while working in the school, he spotted two laptops and two desktop computers.

He said Kofitse asked the witness to accompany him to steal the items, which he (witness) declined.

The prosecution said the two laptops vanished from the school, resulting in the chiefs and elders causing a gong-gong to be beaten to alert the community of the theft.

Inspector Kpodo said the witness responded to the gong-gong announcement and informed the chiefs about his earlier discussion with Kofitse.

He said one of the laptops was found with Kofitse after a search and the second retrieved from his friend.

But in his caution statement, Kofitse denied stealing the laptops, saying he bought them from a dealer in Hohoe for GH¢800 but failed to produce the said dealer or receipt of purchase.

The school authorities have identified the laptops as those donated the them.

GNA