Man jailed 5 years for theft
The 28-year-old man, John Mensah Sabblah, recently captured by Close Circuit Television (CCTV) camera stealing at the VIP lorry station, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in hard labour by the Accra Circuit Court.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to stealing before he was sentenced to spend five years in Ankaful Prisons by the court presided over by Mrs Kizita Quashie.
Two other accused, Sunday Madu, 26, and Charles Chimizie, 27, who are Nigerians, pleaded not guilty to abetment of crime and having in possession of stolen property. They were remanded in prison custody and would appear again in two weeks time.
Sablah stole a bag containing a Dell Chrome Laptop, a Ghanaian passport with a Canadian visa and other personal effects belonging to Iddrisu Adam, a businessman, and the complainant.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Isaac Aquandah, told the court that on February 5, Adam came back to Accra from abroad and went to the VIP bus terminal to board a bus to Sunyani.
He said at the bus terminal, Adam detected that his bag and its contents were missing and he reported to the management of the station.
Chief Insp Aquandah said when the management viewed the CCTV camera they saw the footage of Sabblah stealing the complaint’s bag.
The court heard that on February 10, accused was spotted at the VIP station with the stolen bag and management of the VIP bus terminal called the police to arrest him.
Chief Insp Aquandah said a Qatar Airways boarding pass bearing the complainant’s name, one orange sports watch, one ear piece device, one keypad ear device, a Samsung smart phone, one Bluetooth device, one silver wrist watch and one keypad were found on him after a search.
The court heard that Sabblah admitted the offence in his caution statement and said he sold the Dell Chrome laptop to one Richard, currently on the run, at GH¢230.
Chief Insp Aquandah said that the convict threw away the passport of the complainant and that efforts to trace the passport proved futile.
He said Sabblah led police to arrest Madu and during investigation, Madu told investigators that on February 6, the convict brought the Dell Chrome laptop to him for sale.
Chief Insp Aquandah said Madu stated that he realised there was a password on the Dell Chrome laptop and took it to Richard.
He said investigation led to the arrest of Chimesie the third accused who was in possession of the laptop.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA