Crime

Musician jailed 6 years for stealing money

A 27-year-old musician has been sentenced to six years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing items and cash belonging to a soldier and his family.

Prince Opoku, alias Agyenkwaah, stole items and cash including $24,100, 1,580 Euros, GH¢11,800.00, Toshiba laptop computer, mobile phones and jewellery.

Opoku, who was arraigned in August 2019, earlier pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry, causing unlawful harm and stealing, but later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted on his own plea.

He told the court that he had sinned against the state and pleaded for leniency.

Police Chief Inspector Gulliver Kwabena Tenkorang told the court presided by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah that Lieutenant Colonel Callicus Bapuuroh, Rachael Doozie Bapuuroh, an auditor and Diana Doozie, an administrator are the complainants in the case.

He said the soldier is the father of the women and they reside at Mallam-Gbawe, whereas Opoku resides at Kasoa in the Central Region.

Chief Insp Tenkorang said that the family on Sunday, July 28, 2019, left for church at Cantonments, also in Accra.

He said later same day, they returned home and detected that thieves had broken into their five-bedroom house through the kitchen door.

Chief Insp Tenkorang said the thieves made away with one Toshiba laptop computer valued US$700, HP laptop computer valued US$550, Samsung mobile phone valued USD$380, Nokia mobile phone valued US$270, two metal plaques, cash of US$23,700, €1,000 Euros and GH¢4,600.00 all belonging to the military officer.

The prosecution said they reported the incident to the Gbawe police station.

He said police on July 30, at about midnight, had intelligence that Opoku was spotted in a dance party at Arena, Accra, giving dollar notes to his friends.

Chief Insp Tenkorang said police arrested the musician at his hideout at Kasoa, and Opoku in his cautioned statement confessed going to the house of the complainants and used a crow bar and a screw-driver to break into the house.

He said the convict told the police that he used part of the money to buy a Toyota Corolla car with the registration number GR 681-11 and a motorbike, all valued GH¢28,000.00.

Chief Insp Tenkorang said a search in the convict’s room revealed US$1,400, quantity of jewellery, one HP and Toshiba laptop computers, one IPad, a Samsung tablet, a metal plaque and two military paraphernalia.

He said the police also found the crow bar and screw driver, which Opoku used to commit the crime.

The court ordered that the items and monies retrieved should be handed over to the complainants, and also directed that the complainants go to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to facilitate the change of ownership of the vehicles. – GNA

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