Teenager Jailed 30 Months For Stealing

The Juaso Circuit Court has handed down a 30-month jail sentence to 18-year-old Kwabena Asante for stealing GH�200.00. He had sneaked into a shop, jointly owned by Margret Oppong and the husband, at Pra-River Breku in the Asante-Akim South District, to steal the cash. Asante, who faced charges of unlawful entry and stealing admitted the crime but disputed the amount involved, insisting that he stole GH�60.00 and not GH�200.00 as alleged. Police Sergeant Emmanuel Gavi, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr. Alex Obeng Asante that the complainant, Margaret Oppong, her husband and the convict live at Pra-River Breku. The prosecutor said Oppong�s husband left his luggage containing the money in the shop at about 0530 hours on July 23, as he walked across to a nearby lorry station to board a vehicle to Kumasi. Sgt Gavi said Oppomg�s husband returned a few minutes later only to realize that the door to the shop had been opened and money in the luggage stolen. The court heard that the husband questioned Asante when he saw him loitering around the area, and the convict took to his heels. The prosecution said some neighbours assisted the man to arrest Asante.