The Keta Circuit Court has sentenced one Bessa Achikpoh to six years in prison for damaging and stealing public property and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of another, Daniel Ashie.
The two have been accused of conspiring to cause unlawful damage and stealing property belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The Presiding Judge, Kwame Polley, in his judgment on February 28, 2018, sentenced Bessa Achikpoh (1st accused) to six years in prison with hard labour and issued a bench warrant for the immediate arrest of Daniel Ashie (2nd Accused) who absconded during arrest.
The 1st accused was found guilty on all three counts of conspiracy, stealing, and damage of public property and was given a six-year jail term while a bench warrant had been issued for the areest of the seconnd, now at large.
According to the prosecutor, the accused on December 24, 2014 at Tegbi in the Volta Region, stole and damaged low voltage copper conductors belonging to the ECG and went to Anloga with three pelicans stuffed with pieces of cut cables to sell.
The Official Court Records indicated that a team of personnel from the Ghana Police Service were notified by ECG at Keta that items stolen were being offered on sale to a scrap dealer at Anloga.
The Police then laid ambush and effected the arrest as the two accused arrived at the scrap dealer’s shop to weigh and sell the stolen cables. Unfortunately, the second accused got away.
The first accused initially pleaded not guilty insisting that he was only present at the dealer’s shop on the invitation of his friend, Daniel to accompany him to Anloga. He claimed no knowledge of the mission or intent of the visit, saying, when he inquired from the second accused, he was told he would get to know when at the shop
The 1st accused prior to sentencing by the court, pleaded for mitigation saying, his wife had just delivered a baby, thus, he had a responsibility towards the innocent child. He also notified the court that he was a first time offender and pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
By: Collins Anku/voltaonlinegh.com