A circuit court at Asamankese has sentenced Yaw Ayivor, a 33-year-old diamond miner, to one month imprisonment in hard labour for stealing a ram.

Ayivor who pleaded guilty was additionally fined 200 Ghana cedis or in default serve another 18 months in jail in hard labour.

Jacob Amponsah, 40, who was charged with Ayivor and pleaded not guilty, was granted 1,000 Ghana cedis bail with one surety to re-appear on September 12.

Police Chief Inspector S. A. Ntow told the court that both accused persons lived at Number Four village near Akwatia.

He said in June this year, Iddrisu Illo, complainant, detected that his ram was missing and he searched the village for the animal in vain.

Chief Inspector Ntow said on July 13, a witness in the case saw a man selling a ram at Akwatia and suspected it belonged to the complainant.

Prosecution said the witness pretended to be interested in buying the animal and promised to pay for it the following day.

Chief Inspector Ntow said the witness went to inform the complainant about the matter and when the man who was offering the ram for sale was confronted, he said Bukari asked him to sell it on his behalf.

Prosecution said when Bukari was contacted by the complainant, he said he bought the ram from Kwame Agyapon.

The Prosecution said Bukari and Agyapon arrested Ayivor and handed him over to the police.

Chief Inspector Ntow said Ayivor admitted committing the offence and said Amponsah gave him the ram to sell.

The Prosecution said the police contacted the assemblyman at No. 4 village and when Amponsah was arrested he denied having knowledge of the stolen animal.


Source: GNA