Cleaner jailed 36-months for stealing lawyer's $5,000

A 26-year-old woman, Linda Teiko Teye, has been handed a 36-month jail term by an Accra Circuit Court after admitting to stealing $5,000 from a lawyer’s office to fund a personal shopping spree.

The court, presided over by His Honor Isaac Addo, found Linda guilty on two counts—unlawful entry and theft—after she pleaded guilty to both charges. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Prosecutors, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, revealed that the victim, a legal practitioner based in Haatso, had left $7,500 in a locked drawer at his Tse-Addo office on April 2, 2025. In a lapse of caution, the lawyer left the key in the drawer before leaving for home.

When he returned on April 19, he discovered that $5,000 had gone missing. A report was swiftly filed at the “Rasta” Police Station.

Police investigations pointed to Linda, who had been working as a cleaner in one of the apartments in the same building. She was arrested at her residence in Teshie Mangoase after intelligence suggested she had been seen spending U.S. dollars.

A search of her home revealed several recently purchased items, including furniture, electronics, clothing, and an iPhone. Items retrieved included a bed, mattress, standing fan, rice cooker, blender, gas cylinder, ladies' bags, and footwear—believed to have been bought with the stolen funds.

During questioning, Linda admitted to observing where the lawyer kept his office keys. She confessed to taking the key from the window, entering the office, and unlocking the drawer to take the money.

She also returned $500 of the stolen amount, which she claimed was the only portion left.

The case has drawn public interest due to the methodical nature of the theft and the swift investigation that led to Linda’s confession and sentencing.