The Abuakwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 22-year-old driver’s mate who broke into the storeroom of a school and stole various items.
The convict will spend the next four years behind bars.
Emmanuel Oteng, popularly known as “Sika Gari”, committed the crime at the Bantama M/A JHS and made away with items such as a tabletop fridge, a plastic barrel, and two metal buckets belonging to the school.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and was convicted on his own plea.
At the court presided over by Mrs. Philomina Ansaah Asiedu, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Jonas Newlove Agyei revealed that the complainant in the case was the Headmaster of Bantama M/A JHS, while Oteng was also a resident of the community.
The prosecution stated that on October 17, 2024, at about 7am, the complainant went to school and realised that the window of the staff common room had been damaged.
He entered the room and after inspection detected that the school’s Philips table-top fridge valued at GH¢3,000, one barrel valued at GH¢600 and two metal bucket stands, valued at GH¢1,200, all totalling GH¢4,800, kept inside the common room, had been stolen.
The prosecution continued that the complainant informed the assembly member of the area, and upon enquiries, Oteng was arrested from his hideout and handed over to the Suntreso police.
The prosecution explained that Oteng admitted in his caution statement that he sold the stolen items to one Kofi Kombate at Suntreso but failed to locate the alleged buyer.
After investigation, Oteng was charged and brought before the court.