Apprentice, 22, allegedly steals over GH¢308k from master

A 22-year-old mechanical apprentice, Richard Agyei, has been accused of stealing GH¢308,700.00 worth of vehicles spare parts from his master. The 22 years old allegedly stole the items in December 2022.

Agyei appeared before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Isaac Oheneba Kuffour, on Monday, on 17 counts of stealing.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢350,000.00 with three sureties, one to be justified.

Mr. Kuffour, after taking the plea of the accused and the presentation of the charge and brief facts, adjourned the case to December 18, 2023.

The prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector John Gohoho, told the court that the complainant, Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, was a trader and resident of Abossey Okai in Accra, while the accused was an apprentice and lived in the same vicinity.

He said Richard was charged together with a 33-year-old trader, George Odei Nkrumah, who lived at Old Timers at Kasoa.

Chief Inspector Gohoho narrated to the court that the complainant had an uncompleted four storey building and uses the premises for a workshop and warehouse respectively.

The court was told that the complainant was keeping spare parts of V8 vehicles such as head and tail lights and added that the ground floor of the building was where Richard and others under apprenticeship were learning their trade.

The prosecutor said the complainant entrusted the key to the main gate of the building to Richard and his colleagues who slept on the last floor of the building.

The theft was detected on December 16, 2022, and based on suspicion the complainant questioned Richard and his colleague apprentices about the stolen items.

After the questioning, Richard confessed that he stole four pairs of vehicle head and tail tights.

The complainant reported the matter to the police and Richard was arrested and sent to the Korle-Bu Police Station.

During investigations, Richard admitted to stealing a pair of Land Cruiser head lights, a set of Prado tail lights and two sets of Hilux tail light which he sold to someone at Abossey Okai at the price of GH¢800.00, and GH¢500.00 each.

The first accused (A1) led the police to arrest A2 at Abossey Okai spare parts area and during interrogation Emmanuel (A2) also admitted having bought the items from Al at the prices stated and resold them. After investigation, Richard and Emmanuel were charged with stealing and dishonestly receiving and put before the court.

SOURCE: THE CHRONICLE