Court fines three suspected thieves

Takoradi, March 31, GNA - A Takoradi District Magistrate court on Wednesday fined Issaka Issifu, 23, 500,000 cedis or three months imprisonment for stealing a car jack within the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) premises.

Issifu, a casual labourer pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Alice Parker-Wilson told the court presided over by Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu that, on February 1 this year, around 1640 hours, the accused, who had been booked to off-load goods from a container for inspection, spotted the jack, which had earlier been used by one of the drivers of GPHA to change a tyre.

She said Issifu hid the jack in his clothing but was arrested at the gate by the security men on duty and handed over to the police. At the same court, Ekow Krah, a 22-year-old unemployed was also fined 300,000 cedis or in default two months imprisonment for stealing 29 empty beer, coca cola and wine bottles. He pleaded guilty.

Inspector Parker-Wilson said on March 28, the complainant, Samuel Tetteh, organised an Easter Monday celebrations at the Last Hour Cultural Beach Centre at Takoradi for its customers and holidaymakers. She said the following day, Tetteh was alerted that some group of young men were collecting the bottles from the centre and with the assistance of some neighbours, and the accused was arrested. Similarly, Kofi Young, who also stole eight bottles from the Last Hour Cultural and Beach Centre, was also fined 100,000 cedis by the same court.

He pleaded guilty.

Presenting the facts, Police Inspector Grace Appiagyei said on March 29 2005, the accused was spotted with a sack load of bottles and was arrested and handed over to the Police.