A 23 year-old man has been handed a four year prison term for stealing and installing prepaid meters belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Atta Kakra is reported to have stolen and installed eight prepaid meters for his customers at prices ranging from Gh¢250 – Gh¢350.
Atta Kakra was found guilty of the crime by the Circuit Court at Swedru in the Central Region.
The eight customers who bought the meters were each fined Gh¢2,000 by the court.
The prosecutor, Mr Ali Shaibu told the court that the Swedru district of ECG, around February this year, received eight customer complaints of meter thefts.
According to him, the numbers to the stolen meters were registered and investigations initiated.
He said in April, a lady walked into the customer relations office of the Swedru district to request replacement for a lost prepaid card but failed to produce a receipt of previous purchases.
Upon interrogations, the matter was referred to the Swedru police to probe how the lady got the meter.
Atta Kakra, who happens to be a cousin of the lady was mentioned as the supplier and was subsequently arrested by the Swedru police. His arrest led to the identification of seven other stolen meters he had connected.
Irresponsible
The presiding judge, Mrs Abigail Anima-Asare expressed deep concern and disgust at the level of irresponsibility on the part of both the suspect and customers who patronized his services.
In her ruling, she found both Atta Kakra and the customers guilty and handed them the sentences.
The District Manager of ECG in Swedru, Mr. Ahmed Adams warned customers to desist from engaging middlemen in their quest to access ECG services and encouraged them to deal directly with the company to prevent any inconvenience.
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