The Asante Akropong Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District has sentenced a 44-year-old driver to five years imprisonment for stealing a low bed truck valued at GH¢300,000 at Pankrono, near Kumasi.

Kwame Oppong pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea by the court presided by Mrs Gloria Mensah Bonsu.

Police Chief Inspector Ruth Gborson prosecuting, told the court that complainant Stephen Kingsley Annor was a businessman and resident of Pankorono, while the convict resided at Adankwame, near Akropong.

She said in May 2023, the complainant engaged Oppong to drive his Man Diesel low bed truck with registration number GE 2113-11 at Pankorono.

She said two months later, the truck developed a fault so the complainant told the convict to park it at a spot at Kumasi Sofoline and remove the head to Suame Magazine for repairs.

The prosecution said the convict convinced the complainant that it should be parked in his mother’s house at Adankwame-Nsiakrom to prevent it from stealing and the complainant agreed with him.

According to Chief Inspector Gborson, the convict went behind the complainant and sold the truck to a scrap dealer, identified as Abubakar, at GH¢12,000.00 and went into hiding.

After unsuccessful attempts by the complainant to trace him, he reported the matter to the Abuakwa police.

Oppong was later arrested from his hideout at Offinso-Abofuor, his hometown.

In his caution statement, he admitted and led the police to the residence of the buyer at Afful Nkwanta, but could not trace him.

After further investigations, he was charged and brought before the court.