A twenty-year-old motor rider at Jema in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing, assaulting a public officer, resisting lawful arrest and causing harm.
Eric Cobbina, pleaded guilty to all the charges when he appeared before the Enchi District Magistrate court presided over by his worship Eric Baah Boateng.
Prosecuting, Police Detective Sergeant Joseph Kwadwo Agyare, told the court that the complainant, Domfe Francis a farmer, lives at Apenzu in the Aowin Municipality.
He said on the 20th January last year the complainant was looking for a vehicle to transport his one bag and 29 kilograms of dried cocoa beans valued at GH¢695.40 Gp to Jema.
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Mr Agyare said the complainant saw the convict and requested if he could convey the said dried cocoa beans to a purchasing clerk shed in Jema and he responded in the affirmative.
He said the convict then tied the dried cocoa beans on his motorbike convinced the complainant to wait for him and drove off on his motorbike.
He said on reaching Jema the convict went and sold the dried cocoa beans to a different purchasing clerk and bolted.
The Prosecution said the complainant waited for some time but when he did not hear from the convict he decided to trace his goods but on arrival, he was informed that his goods had not arrived at that depot.
The Prosecution said the complainant during his own investigations discovered that the dried cocoa beans were sent to a different purchasing clerk for sale.
He said the complainant then reported the matter to the Police in Jema and the purchasing clerk was apprehended and the dried cocoa beans retrieved.
Mr Agyare said months later the convict returned to town and started harassing the residents in Jema.
He said on December 12, 2018, the police had intelligence that Cobbina has been seen loitering in town.
The Prosecution said Police in an attempt to apprehend him, Cobbina fiercely resisted arrest and assaulted one Emmanuel Coffie, a community protection police chap, tore his T-shirt, bit his thumb and index finger.
He said the convict was however overpowered with the assistance of other Police Officers.
Mr Agyare said a medical report form was issued to the victim to seek medical attention and Cobbina after investigations was charged with the offence.