A 28-year-old scrap collector named Akwasi Boateng has been sentenced to six months of hard labor by a Circuit Court in Dormaa-Ahenkro.
He faced charges of unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage, and stealing an air conditioner valued at GhC7,000.00.
Boateng pleaded guilty to all three charges, and the presiding judge, Madam Philomena Ansah Asiedu (Esq.), convicted and sentenced him based on his own admission.
According to Police Inspector (P/Inspt.) Emmanuel Asare, who served as the prosecutor, the incident occurred in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region.
The complainant, an artisan, resided on the premises of a newly constructed sports stadium along the Dormaa-Kyeremasu road, while the convict lived in Dormaa-Ahenkro.
On Wednesday, August 23 of the current year, at approximately 1300 hours, a witness observed the convict standing by the roadside near the stadium, carrying items concealed in a sack and a bag suspected to be stolen goods.
P/Inspt. Asare reported that the witness confronted Boateng, questioning him about the contents of the sack, to which the convict provided incoherent answers. Sensing trouble, Boateng attempted to flee but was pursued and apprehended. A subsequent spot search conducted by the witness and others uncovered an air conditioner set and electric cables in the sack.
Further inspection of the bag revealed additional items, including pliers, a hacksaw blade, a pair of scissors, a spanner, and a claw hammer—all suspected to be the tools used by the convict to commit the crimes.
The prosecutor explained that the witness, along with others, brought Boateng to the police station, along with the confiscated items, to report the incident. The complainant later visited the police station and identified the items as property belonging to the state.
During interrogations, Boateng admitted to the offenses and disclosed that he had stolen the items from the newly constructed sports stadium. He even led the police to the scene, pointing out the exact location of the stolen items.
P/Inspt. Asare further stated that the investigation confirmed Boateng’s entry into the sports stadium, where he damaged the air conditioner set and then stole it with the intention of selling it to scrap dealers.
Following the completion of the investigation, Boateng was charged with the offenses and brought before the court for adjudication.