The Ashaiman Circuit Court, presided over by His Worship Mr. Derrick Parden Eshun, has sentenced a 20-year-old scrap dealer, Tahiru Issah, to 12 months in prison with hard labor.
The conviction follows his guilty plea to the charge of stealing when he appeared before the court on March 5, 2025.
Chief Inspector Henry Tetteh Nartey, prosecuting, said Tahiru is a Nigerien who resides at Fitter Line, a suburb of Ashaiman.
He explained that on February 26, 2025, the Gbetsile District Police were on their usual night patrol duty when they spotted him holding a black polythene bag containing some heavy items.
The police became suspicious and apprehended him. Upon searching the bag, they discovered six stopcocks, six safety valves, and one return valve, valued at GH¢3,250, belonging to Ghana Water Limited (GWL).
The prosecutor stated that the police subsequently arrested Tahiru and sent him to the Afienya Police Station. During interrogation, he admitted to stealing the items from some residents in the area.
He was therefore charged with stealing and placed in custody before being processed for court.
Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Eson, the Regional Chief Manager for the Tema Region of GWL, expressed gratitude to the court for the judgment. He noted that the company has recently faced a rise in meter theft, which has negatively impacted its operations.
He appealed to residents to be vigilant and report such suspected individuals to the police.
He also cautioned scrap dealers and others engaged in stealing GWL installations to desist from the act, warning that those caught would face the full rigors of the law.
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