An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Isaac Oheneba Kuffour, has jailed a 25-year-old ex-convict, Ebenezer Bortey, to a total of 10 years imprisonment.
He was imprisoned on two counts of unlawful entry, two counts of causing unlawful damage, and two counts of stealing of items belonging to Mary Addo and William Tawiah Bortier respectively.
The court jailed him 12 months for each count of unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage, and 36 months for stealing.
Ebenezer pleaded guilty simplicata to the counts and was handed the sentence on Monday, July 31, 2023.
Sergeant Priscilla Avoga, holding Chief Inspector John Gohoho’s brief, said the complainant, Mary Addo, is a bar attendant and resides at Nungua Kpokeke, while accused person, Ebenezer Bortey, is an unemployed resident of Nungua Traditional Authority.
He said on July 24, 2023, at 5:00pm, the complainant left home for work, but on her return the next morning at 5:00am, detected that her door had been forcibly opened and the room ransacked.
After taking inventory of the items in the room, she realised that her blender, valued GH¢400.00, microwave which cost GH¢500.00, rice cooker – GH¢280.00, gas cylinder – GH¢l50.00, and a set of bowls also valued GH¢120.00 were all missing.
She raised an alarm and was later informed that the convict had been arrested in connection with another theft case that had occured in the area.
Mary rushed to where the convict had been arrested and found her stolen item with him.
She followed the convict and her properties to the police station and lodged a complaint.
After investigations, the accused person was charged with the offences and put before court.
In the other case, Bortey broke into Tawiah Bortier’s goldsmith shop and made away with jewellery a manufacturing machine.
The crime was detected by Mr. Bortier around 5:00am on July 25, a day after Mary Addo’s incident.
In search of the machine, Mr. Bortier went to a scrap yard in Nungua and informed dealers of the theft.
On the same day, at about 8:00am, the complainant received information that the accused was seen with the machine and offering it for sale.
The complainant and his three sons rushed to the scrap yard, however, in an attempt to apprehend him, the convict abandoned the machine and bolted, but he was chased, arrested and handed over to the police.
He admitted the crime to the police during investigation.
