Court sentences two for stealing cocoa beans

Akim Oda, (E/R), Nov. 11, GNA - The Akim Oda Magistrate's Court, presided over by Mr Albert Owusu Annor, has sentenced two persons to 36 months imprisonment each for stealing five bags of dried cocoa beans, property of Mr Stephen Kofi Kwakye, farmer.

Kwadwo Asare, known as "Osebo," 19, trader and Baba Abu, 24, a driver, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry and stealing.

Briefing the court, Police Inspector Kwaku Appiah said Mr Kwakye the complainant, lived at Akim Anyinase, while the accused persons lived at Akim Abenase.

Inspector Appiah said in the evening of October 23, this year, both Asare and Abu planned and broke into a cocoa shed belonging to Mr Kwakye at Anyinase and stole his five bags of cocoa beans valued at GH¢1,000.

He said the following day at about 1000 hours the accused persons sent the bags of cocoa beans to Nyamekye village near Abenase to sell.

He said Mr Kwakye, who detected the theft, made a report to the police and informed other cocoa purchasing clerks in the area.

Inspector Appiah said unfortunately for Asare and Abu they were arrested when they took the bags of cocoa beans to a shed to sell.

GNA