A Circuit Court at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality of Bono Region, has sentenced Hubert Osei Poku, 18, a tricycle rider to a fine of 220 penalty units, for conspiracy to commit crime and stealing two she-goats.

Poku, who pleaded guilty to the charges would pay Gh₵2,640.00, an equivalent of the 220 penalty units.

But, in default, the convict would serve 12 months imprisonment.

Meanwhile, another accomplice only identified as Isaac, second accused is at large.

Police Inspector (P/Inspt.) Emmanuel Asare, the prosecutor told the Court presided by Mr Osei Kofi Amoako that the complainant resided at Awase, a suburb of Dormaa-Ahenkro. He said at about 0200 hours on Sunday, May 07, 2023, he (complainant) was driving home and at a section of the road at Awase, near the Islamic Junior High School, an unregistered blue tricycle (Pragya) bypassed him in high speed towards town.

P/Inspt. Asare said the complainant became suspicious because of the level of speed of the tricycle in relation to numerous thefts recorded in the locality.

He added the complainant chased and caught up with the tricycle around the Awase gas filling station and alighted from his car with the view to question the occupants.

However, P/Inspt. Asare stated that as soon as the complainant approached the tricycle, its occupants abandoned it and fled, leaving two she-goats tied in the tricycle's trunk with their mouths sealed with black sellotape behind.

He said the complainant alerted the Dormaa-Ahenkro Police night patrol team who came to pull the tricycle to the Police Station together with the goats.

P/Inspt. Asare explained that intelligence gathering led to the arrest of the tricycle's initial rider, a witness in the case who revealed that around 0700 hours on Saturday, May 06, 2023, the convict came for the tricycle as a spare rider for taxi business.

The prosecutor said the convict was later arrested from his hideout and during interrogations, he admitted the offences in his caution statement and mentioned the second accused as his accomplice.