Court defers sentence of two to June 19

Accra, June 5, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Monday deferred the sentencing of two persons who appeared before it on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing items belonging to one Linda Okyere.

Alhassan Abubakar and Mathew Karl Amankwah were said to have conspired and stolen 583 bags of assorted rice, 86 boxes of assorted cooking oil, and 60 boxes of Tom tomato paste all worth GHȼ103,350.00.

The two pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted by the court presided over by Mrs Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye, on their own plea, but deferred sentences to June 19.

Their accomplices Dramani Issifu, Philomena Anang, Ester Quaye, Nana Ama Agyei and Laila Adams, who were charged for dishonestly receiving various quantities of the stolen items however pleaded not guilty to their charges.

They were granted bail by the court to reappear on June 19.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu told the court that the complainant, Linda is a Business woman and operates a retail shop and warehouse at the Makola market, Accra, while Alhassan and Mathew were store attendants at the complainants shop.

He said Dramani, Philomena, Esther, Nana Ama and Laila are traders at the Makola market.

He said during the first quarter of 2016 the complainant had information that Alhassan and Mathew were stealing stocks of rice, cooking oil and tomato paste from her warehouse so she confronted Alhassan who admitted the offence and was handed over to the police.

The prosecution said in the cause of interrogation, Alhassan mentioned Mathew as his accomplice and led the police to his arrest.

Police Chief Inspector Adu said Alhassan also mentioned Dramani, Philomena, Ester Nana Ama and Laila as his receivers of the stolen goods and also led the police to arrest them.

In their caution statement they admitted the offence and have so far refunded GHȼ 30,000.00 each as the value of the quantity of rice, oil and tomato paste they received from Alhassan except Laila.

The prosecution said stock taken by the complainant's auditors during the first quarter of 2016, the period the theft took place, gave the value of rice, oil and tomato paste stolen as GHȼ103,352.00.

He said Alhassan has also refunded GHȼ1,800.00 while Mathew has refunded GHȼ 4,400.00.

GNA

By Hafsa Obeng, GNA