Stealing of cocoyam, plantain: Labourer imprisoned 12 months
He was thus charged for stealing contrary to section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960(Act 29) which states in part that; “ Whoever steals shall be guilty of a second-degree felony."
A labourer in his 20s has been imprisoned 12 months with hard labour by a Magistrate Court at Assin Fosu in the Central Region for stealing a GH¢320 worth of cocoyam and seven bunches of plantain valued at GH¢800
The convict, by the name Atsu Gemeni admitted to stealing the foodstuffs from the farm of Yaw Benuah and Rebecca Ofori and was convicted by the court.
Presenting the facts in court, the prosecutor of the case, Chief Inspector Gilbert Ayongo noted that the now convict was seen by the complainant on March 22, 2022, at around 3 am carrying in a taxi two fertilizer sacks that contained bunches of plantain and cocoyam.
When confronted, the convict claimed ownership of the foodstuff but unconvinced and suspicious, the complainant reported him to the police leading to his subsequent arrest.
It was at the point of interrogation by the police that Atsu admitted to stealing the foodstuffs.
He was thus charged for stealing contrary to section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960(Act 29) which states;
“ (1) Whoever steals shall be guilty of a second-degree felony. (2) Where the Court which finds a person guilty of the offence of stealing is satisfied that on not less than two previous occasions he was found guilty of the offence of stealing, the Court shall order that the whole or any part of any term of imprisonment imposed by it shall be spent in productive hard labour. (3) A person in respect of whom the Court makes an order under subsection (2) shall be disqualified for election to the District Assembly within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), for a period not exceeding five years. (4) For the purposes of this section, "productive hard labour" means to labour in any State Farm or State Factory or any other public co-operative or collective enterprise specified by the Minister. (5) The "previous occasions" referred to in subsection (2) may include occasions which occurred prior to the commencement of this Code.”
Atsu was at the end of the trial, fined 100 penalty units equivalent to GH¢1200.00 and 12 months imprisonment in default.
He could however not pay the fine thus was made to serve 12 months in jail by the court.
