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ECG Cable Thief Handed Six Years

By Daily Guide
Crime & Punishment ECG Cable Thief Handed Six Years
APR 28, 2018 LISTEN

The Keta Circuit Court has sentenced one Bessa Achikpo to six years' imprisonment for damaging and stealing cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Bessa and one Daniel Ahie, who committed the crime, were both charged with conspiracy to cause unlawful damage and stealing property belonging to the public.

The court, presided over by Justice Kwame Polley, subsequently sentenced Bessa to six years' imprisonment with hard labour.

It, however, issued a bench warrant for the immediate arrest of Daniel Ashie.

According to the prosecutor, the accused on December 24, 2014 at Tegbi in the Volta Region stole and damaged low voltage copper conductors belonging to the ECG and travelled to Anloga to sell them.

The prosecution told the court that a team of police personnel, upon a tip-off from ECG officials, laid ambush and arrested the convict.

Officials of the ECG were informed that some stolen cables believed to belong to the company had been offered for sale to a scrap dealer at Anfoega in the North Dayi District.

The scrap dealer was advised by officials of the ECG to ask the sellers to return in the evening for weighing and pricing of the goods.

Bessa, who pleaded not guilty, stressed that he moved to the dealer's shop at Anfoega upon the invitation of his friend, adding that he was not aware of the mission until they got there.

The police initially arrested the two persons who were transacting business with the scrap dealer, but Daniel Ashie managed to escape.

Bessa pleaded for mitigation, saying his wife had delivered recently.

He also told the court that he was a first-time offender.

He was found guilty on all three counts of conspiracy, stealing and damage of public property and was sentenced to six years on each count.

The sentences are to run concurrently.
From Fred Duodu, Ho ( [email protected] )

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