A security guard who stole €5,600 from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Head Office in Accra has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Samuel Nortey Botchway, 40, pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and three counts of stealing. The court, presided over by Isaac Addo, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Botchway admitted to stealing a universal entry card from his superior to access the victim’s office, where he took the money in three separate incidents.

He returned GH¢10,000 to the police but used the rest to refurbish his room, buy a refrigerator, a television, clothes, shoes, pay school fees, and spend on food and drinks.

The thefts were uncovered after the victim installed a CCTV camera in his office following earlier incidents.

The footage showed Botchway stealing from the office.

In delivering the sentence, the judge, Mr. Isaac Addo, acknowledged Botchway’s status as a first-time offender, his guilty plea, and partial restitution.

However, the court stressed the premeditated nature of the crime and the betrayal of trust, stating the offence warranted a deterrent sentence.

Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, who led the prosecution, told the court that the victim, Head of Administration at NHIS, had stored €5,740 in a drawer before travelling abroad.

On May 17 and May 24, 2025, he noticed thefts of €3,300 and €1,300, respectively. On June 19, after installing a hidden camera, a further €1,000 was found missing, leaving only €40.

The footage led to Botchway’s arrest.

He confessed to using a stolen access card from the Head of Security’s office to repeatedly enter and steal from the victim’s drawer.