A 25-year-old painter who stole a laptop from an office at La Kojo Sardine in Accra has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday, Kelvin Boateng pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and stealing.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Christina Cann, convicted Boateng on his own plea.
Boateng, however, broke down and cried as police handcuffed him and escorted him out of the courtroom to begin his sentence.
Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, said the complainant, Mc Dennis Appau, a graphic designer, resided in Kojo Sardine, a suburb of La in Accra.
Chief Inspector Alorwu said Boateng also resided in Agbogboloshie.
The prosecution stated that on December 31, 2024, at about 10:30 am, the complainant and a witness in the case were working in an office at La Kojo Sardine.
The court heard that Boateng scaled the fence wall into the office premises and entered one of the offices, where he took an HP laptop.
On his way out, the prosecution said a witness saw Boateng and raised the alarm.
Boateng bolted with the laptop and hid in a nearby uncompleted building.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant and other witnesses mounted a search and, in the process, found Boateng with the laptop.
The prosecution said Boateng was nabbed and escorted to the police station for further investigation.
During interrogation, the prosecution said Boateng admitted to the offence.