Notorious thief jailed for 32 years

Nkoranza (B/A), March 23, GNA - A magistrate's court at Nkoranza in Brong Ahafo has sentenced 18 year old Sumaila Iddrisu, leader of a notorious gang of thieves at Techiman to a total of 32 years imprisonment in hard labour for committing various criminal offences. He pleaded guilty to his involvement in three separate criminal offences.

Chief Inspector Augustine Webura told the court presided over by Mr Justice George K. Addae, that Iddrisu and three accomplices, broke into some houses at Nkoranza and made away with computers, video decks and other electronic gadgets.

He said a taxi driver they hired to convey the items to Techiman suspected them to be robbers and alerted the police who arrested them. For this offence the court slapped a 20-year term on Iddrisu and gave an accomplice, Alex Ibrahim, a radio mechanic, five years imprisonment.

Stephen Akumpra, also an accomplice who claimed to be a student was remanded to re-appear on July five this year whilst a third accomplice, known as Pinto, is on the run.

Chief Inspector Webura said Iddrisu had earlier led another gang to steal a video set, CD cassettes, a Sanyo television set and accessories at Techiman. The court sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for this offence, whilst an accomplice Alex Ibrahim received five years for receiving the stolen items.

Iddrisu was also jailed for two years for escaping from lawful custody when he broke a handcuff and escaped into the bush as he was being escorted by police for stealing fowls with some accomplices. He was never seen again until early this month when he led another gang to invade Nkoranza on a stealing mission and was arrested. For this offence the court slapped on him a two-year term in prison.