A shop attendant, Samuel Botchway, has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Accra Circuit Court for stealing cosmetics worth GHC174,640.00 from his employer.

Botchway pleaded guilty to stealing boxes of cosmetics valued at GHC158,640.00 and four additional boxes valued at GHC16,000.00 on separate occasions.

The court, presided over by Madam Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, convicted Botchway based on his own plea.

He was sentenced to three years of hard labor for the theft of cosmetic products valued at GHC158,640.00, as well as six months without hard labor for the theft of items valued at GHC16,000.00. The court ordered that both sentences be served concurrently.

According to Police Chief Inspector Eric Pobee, the complainant, Madam Vida Arhin-Duah, is a trader residing in Ablekuma Joma, while the convict, Samuel Botchway, resides in Bortianor, both in Accra.

Botchway had been employed by the complainant as a shop attendant and warehouse keeper at her cosmetics and beauty supply shop in the Mokala shopping mall since 2021.

The prosecution presented evidence that the complainant had been experiencing shortages of stock in both the shop and the warehouse.

On May 16, 2023, around 9:30 AM, while the complainant's shop was open for business, Botchway was observed counting money in another shop within the Okaishie Market belonging to a witness named Latifa Rashid.

The court was informed that the complainant approached the convict to inquire about his presence in Latifa's shop instead of her own.

According to Latifa, she explained to the complainant that Botchway was a regular customer who supplied her with cosmetic products. On May 13, 2023, he had delivered four boxes of gel polish to her, and he had come to collect the payment amounting to GHC 12,800.00.

Further details revealed that between December 2022 and April 2023, the convict had supplied Latifa with various cosmetic products, including body splash, Cobra, gel polish, top coat, and lip shine, among others. Latifa confirmed that she had paid for these products.

Upon the complainant's invitation, the police were called to Latifa's shop where Botchway was apprehended and taken to a police station.

During the investigation, the convict admitted to the offense in his cautioned statement. Subsequently, charges were filed against him, and he was brought before the court.