The Asamankese Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced Kwasi Nyankomango, a 33-year-old farmer, to three months’ in prison for stealing 11 bunches of oil palm fruits from the plantation of Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI) at Kusi. Nyankomango, who pleaded guilty, was also ordered to pay a fine of GH¢1,000 or serve additional two years in prison. Police Inspector Daniel Nartey, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah, that the convict who lived at Kusi took advantage of last year’s December 25 Christmas holidays and illegally harvested 11 bunches of oil palm fruits. He said the Institute’s security, who were tracing footprints from the farm, spotted Nyankomango carrying two bunches of palm fruits and arrested him. Upon interrogation, Nyankomango confessed stealing the 11 bunches of the palm fruits and led the security men to a camp of raffia palm tapers where he had earlier deposited other bunches. Nyankomango was handed over to the Police and he admitted stealing the palm fruits in a caution statement. The presiding judge, Mr Akrowiah asked the convict if he was a Christian since he committed the offence on Christmas Day and he replied in the negative, saying he had never entered a church room. When the judge asked if he had anything to say before judgment was pronounced, he pleaded for leniency, saying he had never stolen before. In his judgment, Mr Akrowiah said he had taken into consideration Nyankomango plea for mitigation and that he had shown remorse in his posture throughout the trial. He said it was the duty of the court to reform and not to destroy and that he took into consideration that the accused was a family man and so decided to deal with him leniently. GNA