An 18-year-old tricycle rider, Hubert Osei Poku, has been sentenced by a Circuit Court in Dormaa-Ahenkro, Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region.
He has been fined 220 penalty units for his involvement in conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing two she-goats.
Poku pleaded guilty to the charges and will be required to pay a fine of GH¢2,640.00, equivalent to 220 penalty units.
The value of each penalty unit is GH¢12.00. In the event of default, Poku will serve a 12-month prison term.
Another individual involved in the case, identified as Isaac, remains at large.
Police Inspector Emmanuel Asare, the prosecutor, presented the case before the Court presided over by Judge Osei Kofi Amoako. According to Inspector Asare, the complainant resided in Awase, a suburb of Dormaa-Ahenkro.
On Sunday, May 7, 2023, at around 2:00 a.m., while the complainant was driving home, an unregistered blue tricycle (priagya) overtook him at high speed near the Islamic Junior High School.
Inspector Asare stated that the complainant became suspicious due to the excessive speed of the tricycle, considering the numerous thefts reported in the area.
The complainant pursued and caught up with the tricycle near the Awase gas filling station. He exited his car intending to question the occupants. However, as Inspector Asare explained, the moment the complainant approached the tricycle, its occupants abandoned it and fled.
Two she-goats were discovered tied in the trunk of the tricycle with their mouths sealed using black adhesive tape.
The complainant immediately alerted the Dormaa-Ahenkro Police night patrol team, who arrived at the scene and brought the tricycle and goats to the police station.
Through intelligence gathering, the initial rider of the tricycle, a witness in the case, was identified and arrested.
The witness disclosed that on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at around 7:00 a.m., the convict had borrowed the tricycle to use as a spare rider for a taxi business.
The prosecutor further explained that the convict was later apprehended at his hideout.
During interrogations, he admitted to the offenses in his cautioned statement and implicated the second accused as his accomplice.
Source: The Independent Ghana