The Tarkwa District Magistrate Court I has sentenced a 27-year-old small-scale miner who reportedly conspired with his brother-in-law to steal gold worth GH30,000 from a gold-buying store in Nsuaem to 18 months in jail with hard labor.
Emmanuel Mensah entered a guilty plea to charges of conspiracy and theft.
Adu Quaye, Mensah’s sidekick, is still at large.
Sergeant Douglas Addae, who is prosecuting, told the court, which was presided over by Mr. Charles Owusu Nsiah, that the accused lived in Nsuaem, in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, and that the complainant, Severin Mouity, is a gold buyer.
Near the Royal Midway Hotel in Nsuaem, he claimed, the complainant had a gold-buying business.
Sergeant Addae claims that on December 5 of last year, the complainant collected gold worth GH$30,000 from clients and kept same in a drawer after the day’s work.
He said that when the complainant arrived at work on December 6, 2022, he discovered that burglars had entered his office via the roof and stolen the gold.
According to the prosecution, the complainant hurried to the Nsuaem Police Station and made a report.
When the accused person’s name came up in the course of the inquiry, according to Sergeant Addae, the police entered his home but were informed that he had traveled.
Mensah went into hiding, according to testimony given in court, but on September 11, 2023, the Agona Police managed to catch up with him.
Mensah went into hiding, according to testimony given in court, but on September 11, 2023, the Agona Police managed to catch up with him.
According to the prosecutor, the accused stated over the course of the inquiry that he and his brother-in-law, Adu Quaye, took the gold from the complainant’s business and sold it for GH2,700, of which he received GH1,200 as his part.
He said that the prisoner claimed to have traveled to his grandmother’s hometown of Alabankata, which is located along the Dixcove road in the Western Region, and taken sanctuary there.
According to Sergeant Addae, Adu Quaye has been sought out by the police so they may bring charges against him.