body-container-line-1
09.03.2006 Crime & Punishment

Man fined 600,000 cedis for stealing plantain

09.03.2006 LISTEN
By GNA

Asamankese, March 9, GNA - A labourer who stole plantain and cassava from a farm at Akwatia has been fined 600,000 cedis by the Asamankese Circuit Court.

Kwadwo Atongo, who pleaded guilty and would go to prison for six months in hard labour, if he failed to pay the fine.

The prosecution told the court that one Mohammed Tairu, had recently been experiencing recurring thefts of cassava and plantain but efforts to track down the culprit proved futile.

It said Tairu, who observed that the thefts mostly took place on Thursday, which is a non-farming day in Akwatia, decided to hide on the farm and watch on a Thursday so on February 23, this year, he hid in an orange tree.

Between 1630 and 1700 hours, he heard the accused calling his name but he did not respond until he saw Atongo inspecting the plantains and he stopped by one that was matured and harvested it.

The prosecution told the court that Tairu then challenged Atongo and after a struggle the thief was arrested and handed over to the police.

Atongo in his plea for mitigation of sentence told the court that he stole the plantain because he was hungry.

body-container-line