The Assin Fosu Magistrate Court in the Central Region sentenced a 23-year-old labourer, Atsu Gemeni has been sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing a cocoyam and seven bunches of plantain.
His Worship Abdul Majid Iliasu who presided over the Court presided sentenced the now convict on his own plea when he pleaded guilty to stealing the food items from the farms of the complainants, Yaw Benuah and Rebecca Ofori at Assin Dunkwa.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Gilbert Ayongo, presenting the case to the court, said on 22nd March 2022, about 3 am, a witness in the case (name withheld) suspected the movement of the convict when he was conveying two fertilizer sacks containing seven bunches of plantain and cocoyam in a taxi cab≥
Chief inspector Gilbert Ayongo explained that the convict claimed ownership of the foodstuff but its source did not go down well with the witness, hence reported for his arrest.
Upon interrogation by the police, the convict admitted to having stolen the food items from the complainant’s farms and thus he was put before the court and was charged with stealing, contrary to Section 124 (1) of the criminal offences Act, 19960 (Act 29).
Meanwhile, the Senior Officer in charge of court cases who doubles as the MTTD commander for Assin Foso Police Division, ASP Kwabena Oduro Boateng, explained that the convict could not afford to pay the 100 penalty units fine which is equivalent to One Thousand Two Hundred Ghana cedis so in default he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
ASP Kwabena Oduro Boateng, however, advised the youth in the area to desist from acts that could hinder their progress and find something meaningful to do to better their lives.
CCF’s crime prevention advocacy
Aside from paying for the fines of petty offenders, Crime Check Foundation (CCF) has introduced programmes including the latest ‘Stay Away From Trouble’ as part of its crime prevention advocacy project.
Through these programmes CCF cautions the general public against acts that could land them in trouble in a bid to curb crime.
The Foundation screens one-on-one interviews with prison inmates bringing to bear acts that landed them in prison and the difficulties they face in custody.
It has also paid the fines of many petty offenders for their release.
