The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 28-year-old unemployed, Emmanuel Takyi, to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour, for stealing and attempting to rob his former employer.
He pleaded guilty to both charges and was convicted by the court, presided by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu.
Police Chief Inspector Abraham Ayitey, prosecuting, said the complainant is a gold buyer and resident of Wassa Japa in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, and hails from Derma, in the Tano South District of the Ahafo Region.
The prosecution stated that Takyi also hails from Derma.
The court heard that Takyi was an employee at the complainant’s gold refinery shop at Wassa Dadieso, near Wassa Akropong.
Chief Insp Ayitey said Takyi stole GH¢28,000 from the gold shop, and went and stayed in Koforidua, with the intention to travel outside the country, but ended up squandering all the money.
The court heard that Takyi liaised with the witness in the case with the intention to rob the complainant’s gold shops at Wassa Akropong.
Chief Insp Ayitey said the witness who hails from the same town as the complainant, pretended he was interested in Takyi’s plot.
The prosecution revealed that the witness rather informed the complainant through a worker at the shop about Takyi’s motive.
Chief Insp Ayitey further disclosed that Takyi and the witness planned to carry out the operation on Sunday, September 29, 2024, but someone hinted the Wassa Akropong police about it.
The prosecution said the police arrested the witness and Takyi on board a vehicle on their way to carry out the robbery, at a barrier at Nkonya, near Wassa Akropong.
Chief Insp Ayitey said Takyi in his caution statement admitted the offence, claiming he was going through hardship and that was why he stole from the complainant and planned to rob him as well. —GNA