A 28-year-old unemployed man, Emmanuel Takyi, who was arraigned before the Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing and preparing to rob his former employer, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour.
He pleaded guilty to both charges and was convicted by the court, presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu.
The prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector Abraham Ayitey, stated that the complainant is a gold buyer residing in Wassa Japa in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, but both the complainant and Takyi are originally from Derma in the Tano South District of the Ahafo Region.
He explained that about two months ago, Takyi was an employee at the complainant’s gold refinery shop at Wassa Dadieso near Wassa Akropong.
During his employment, Takyi stole an amount of GH¢28,000 from the gold shop and subsequently went to Koforidua, intending to travel outside the country but ultimately squandered all the money.
The prosecutor said that later, Takyi prepared himself and collaborated with a witness in the case, planning to return to Wassa Akropong to rob the complainant in one of his gold shops.
The witness, who is from the same hometown as the complainant, pretended to be interested in the plan but secretly informed the complainant through one of his workers about Takyi’s intentions.
Takyi and the witness planned to carry out the operation on Sunday, September 29, 2024. However, the police were alerted on the same day when someone tipped them off at the Wassa Akropong Police Station.
On that day, at about 7:00 pm, the police received detailed information about the suspects’ trip, including the vehicle registration number they had boarded from Kumasi to Wassa Akropong, Takyi’s attire, and his seat in the vehicle.
Chief Inspector Ayitey said the police set up a temporary barrier at Nkonya near Wassa Akropong, and when the vehicle arrived, they arrested Takyi and the witness. Takyi admitted to the offence in his caution statement, claiming he was experiencing hardship, which led him to steal from and plan to rob the complainant.
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