A 19-year-old young man, Prince Bentum, who stole his co-worker’s GH¢5,000 and two mobile phones, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the Tarkwa District Magistrate Court One.  

Bentum was held for unlawful entry and stealing pleaded guilty to the charges.  

Police Sergeant Adwoa Yeboah, Prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr Charles Owusu Nsiah that Degraft Hagan, the complainant, was a student and managed a mineral water company in Railway quarters, a suburb of Tarkwa.  

She said the complainant usually worked during vacations, and Bentum also worked for the same company.  

The prosecutor said that while Bentum and the other staff resided in one large hall, the complainant resided in a section of the hall made of plywood with a door.  

She said on September 27, 2025, the complainant and some workers went out to supply water, while Bentum was bagging water at home.  

When they left, the convict abandoned his work, unlocked the complainant’s room, and stole the complainant's iPhone 7 Plus and its charger, valued at GH¢1,650, a Tecno mobile phone with a broken screen, value unknown, and GH¢5,000. cash.  

After the act, Bentum packed his belongings and bolted with them, and when the complainant returned home, he found the door to his room had been forced open and could not find his two mobile phones and money, Sergeant Yeboah added.  

The prosecutor said the complainant did not see Bentum again, but noticed his bag and clothes had also disappeared from the hall.  

The complainant informed their employer, Isaac Esuon, who works in Twifo Praso, about the incident.  

She said on October 2, 2025, Bentum emerged from his hideout and went to Twifo Praso to look for another job. The witness saw him, detected that he had repaired the Tecno mobile phone he had stolen from the complainant’s room, and was using it.  

The witness arrested him and took him to the Atieku Akyempim police station. With the help of the officers, he was brought to the Tarkwa police station, where the complainant lodged a complaint with the police.  

Prosecution said Bentum admitted he entered the complainant’s room and stole his mobile phones, charger, and cash of GH¢2,500, but denied taking GH¢5,000.

Bentum added, “I used part of the money to buy clothes, food, and repair the defective Tecno mobile phone I stole.” 

He further confessed that the iPhone 7 Plus, charger, and the clothes he bought were in his bag at Takoradi, while the Tecno mobile phone was with the Atieku Akyempim police.  

Sergeant Yeboah said Bentum led the police to Takoradi, where they recovered the iPhone 7 Plus, charger, and additional items, including a pair of jeans, a Lacoste T-shirt, boxer shorts, two pairs of PT shorts, and two pairs of knickers, which he purchased with the money.  

She mentioned that GH¢2,600 was recovered from Bentum’s mobile money account, while the Tecno mobile phone was retrieved from the Atieku Akyempim police, adding that all the items and money were kept for evidence.