By Edward Williams
Hohoe (V/R), Nov. 14, GNA – A 29-year-old electrician, Samuel Ledi, alias Corn dealer, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the Hohoe Circuit Court for stealing a lady’s handbag, which contained a sum of GH₵40,000.
Tsikata, a suspect in the case is, however, at large.
On July 17, 2024, the convict was put before the Court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey for the offence and pleaded not guilty.
However, Ledi was found guilty after a full trial, convicted and sentenced.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Charles Aziati told the Court that the Ledi was “known” and that in 2021, he committed similar offence by stealing a bag containing money and phone leading to his imprisonment for two years hence prayed the Court for severe punishment.
He said the complainant was a trader and sells fish at the Hohoe market and on May 22, 2023, she went to market and kept her red bag valued GH₵200 containing cash amount of GH₵40,000 in a carton under her table.
Chief Inspector Aziati said at about 1300 hours, same day, the complainant detected theft of the bag and its content and reported the case to the Police, where two suspects were arrested.
He said in the course of the investigations the convict came to inform the Police that the suspect at large and his friend were those, who stole the complainant’s money and that he could assist the Police to arrest the suspect and his friend at Ashaiman.
Chief Inspector Aziati said the convict took the complainant’s husband and two Police officers to Ashaiman to look for the suspect and the friend but they were not found after two days of search.
He said on June 6, 2023, the complainant and her husband came to inform the Police that they had information from a reliable source that the convict was among the people, who stole the complainant’s money leading to his arrest on suspicion and detained in cell for investigation.
Chief Inspector Aziati said on June 14, 2023, the convict and two other suspects were put before the Circuit Court, Hohoe, where they were remanded into Police custody for investigation.
He said on June 24, 2023, a witness in the case came to inform the Police that he was also involved in a Police case and was arrested and detained in cell and whilst in the same cell with the convict, he told the witness that he led the suspect at large and his friend to steal the complainant’s money and that he only took the Police officers to Ashaiman to look for Tsikata as a strategy to mislead the Police.
Chief Inspector Aziati said on July 14, 2023, a 13-year-old, another witness in the case came to inform the Police that he was the one the convict sent to steal the complainant’s bag containing the money for him.
He said an identification parade was conducted at the Hohoe Police station and the witness pointed out the convict to the Police as the person who sent him to steal.
Chief Inspector Aziati said an advice from the Attorney General’s Office on the docket for the convict formally charged him with the offence of stealing.
GNA