A security man has been put before an Accra District Court for allegedly damaging four air conditioners belonging to the Animal Production Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) over nonpayment of his salaries for the past seven months.
Mustapha Yakubu who has been charged with causing unlawful damage, pleaded not guilty.
Mr Frank Yeboah, an agriculturalist and Veronica Tetteh, a cleaner both of the unit testified before the court about Yakubu’s culpability.
During the trial on Thursday before the court presided over by Ms Aret Nsemoh, Yakubu narrated how he came to destroy the air conditioners after sorting several assistance from his superiors including the accountant of the unit to get his salary.
According to the witness he has also paid several visits to the Ghana Commercial Bank branch at the Ministries over salary but to no avail.
Yakubu said a biometric registration was conducted by Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and he took part in the exercise at the Ministry.
After the exercise, the accused person said he was asked to go to SSNIT office which he did.
“I was given a form at SSNIT and took it to the accountant of MOFA to work on it. I however did not have access to my salary arrears,” accused told the court.
He said he admitted before to two staff of the Ministry that he destroyed the air-conditioners because he had not been paid for the past seven months.
During cross examination by the Prosecution led by Sergeant Joyce Ofori, Yakubu admitted damaging the four air conditioners valued at GH 12,000 cedis.
He told the court that he destroyed the subject-matter with a cutlass which had been tendered in evidence.
Yakubu told the court that he committed the act in the night.
According to Yakubu after destroying the air conditions he was yet to receive his salaries.
He admitted that his duty at the Ministry was to protect property but he rather ended up destroying them.
The court has fixed December 22, this year to deliver its judgement.
On November 23, this year, Yakubu, who also a night watchman on duty at MOFA destroyed four air conditions.
The following day, prosecution said Madam Veronica saw one of the air-conditioners fell off from one of the rooms at the Ministry and reported the matter to her superiors.
Source: GNA
Watchman causes damage over nonpayment of salary
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