Driver jailed for stealing GH¢ 7,500

Suhum (E/R), Jan. 27 GNA – Isaac Sarkodie, a 36-year-old taxi driver, was on Thursday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing by a Koforidua Circuit Court.

Sarkodie stole his girlfriend's cheque book and cashed GH¢ 7,500 from her account.

He pleaded guilty.
Police Chief Inspector Ben Nyonator, told the court presided over by Mrs Wilhemia Hammond that the complainant, Esther Obiri, is an employee of Obiri Lotteries Company Limited based in Ho while Sarkodie, a taxi driver, resides in Koforidua.

He said the complainant inherited GH¢ 7,500 from the estate of her late husband which was deposited at the Ghana Commercial Bank at Suhum.

He said in July last year the complainant came into contact with the convict while traveling from Ho to Koforidua and started a relationship.

Chief Inspector Nyonator said whiles on a visit Sarkodie signed his signature on a sheet of paper and asked the complainant to also sign her signature for them to compare the beautiful one among them and the complainant without knowing the intention of Sarkodie complied with the request.

He said Sarkodie took a copy of the complainant's signature and left for Suhum where he forged the signature of the complainant and withdrew some money from her account.

Chief Inspector Nyonator said on October 20th last year Sarkodie again went to the bank to withdraw money but was confronted by a cashier who demanded the whereabouts of the owner of the cheque.

He said Sarkodie the complainant on the mobile phone and told her that his sister had sent him some money through her account and wanted her to assist him to withdraw the money.

He said the complainant on receiving the message rushed from Ho to Suhum and on reaching the Ghana Commercial Bank saw Sarkodie who was already waiting at the bank.

Chief Inspector Nyonator said Sarkodie told the complainant to wait in his car after which he entered the bank and told the cashier that the complainant had arrived but was sick and could not walk to the bank.

He said the cahier and one of the security men came out from the bank to see the complainant sitting in the car and with this he allowed Sarkodie to cash the amount.

The prosecutor said the complainant who had no knowledge about the deal later bought a new taxi cab for Sarkodie.

Sarkodie sent the taxi to Koforidua and for the past four months never rendered account to the complainant who felt cheated and traced Sarkodie to Koforidua where she heard that he was offering the car for sale.

The complainant reported the matter to the Suhum Police and Sarkodie was arrested and during interrogation he demanded a refund of GH¢ 1,000 as his contribution towards the purchase of the car.

Chief Inspector Nyonator said the complainant went to the bank to withdraw the money for Sarkodie only to be told that there was nothing in her account as the convict had withdrawn all the GH¢ 7,500 from her account.

GNA