On September 3, 2023, Matinu Alhassan, a 19-year-old foreman, had his appearance before an Adentan Circuit Court on charges of allegedly stealing GH¢57,000 from a hardware store.
In court before Judge Angela Attachie, the defendant pled not guilty to shoplifting, padlock destruction, and theft.
The court set bail at GH¢57,000 after he pleaded not guilty; two sureties were required to provide proof of ownership of a piece of land. Next steps in the lawsuit will be determined on October 2, 2023.
Details
Emmanuel Twumasi was described as a businessman by Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo, the prosecutor who brought the matter before the court.
According to him, the alleged conspirator, Twumasi, lives in Oyibi, Appolonia, a suburb of Accra, with the accused, Alhassan, and Malik Adam (who is presently at large).
He went on to say that Twumasi, a hardware equipment dealer, has many stores in Accra, including one in Appolonia run by a guy named Mohammed.
Mohammed, the suspect Adam and other employees who frequently slept in the shop.
The prosecution said that when the store closed on August 8, 2023, Twumasi entrusted Mohammed, the manager, with the responsibility of collecting the revenues as he was unable to do so himself.
Chief Inspector Lanyo claims that Alhassan, one of the accused, found out about the money through Adam, a friend and possible collaborator of his.
Thus, that same day at around 11 o’clock in the evening, Alhassan dropped by the store unexpectedly when Adam and Mohammed, the manager, were fast sleeping.
After gaining access to the money, Alhassan broke the padlock and made off with 57,000 Ghana cedis.
Adam caught sight of Alhassan as he tried to flee with the money and questioned him.
When Adam consented to let Alhassan flee, Alhassan said they could split the loot.
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Shopkeeper informed the complainant the next day of the break-in and theft, which resulted in a complaint being filed at the Oyibi Police Station.
After an investigation, the accused—who had already acknowledged to the crime in his caution statement—was arrested.
But he then indicated he was unaware of the stolen funds.
A prosecutor said that Adam, the suspect’s alleged accomplice, was the target of current attempts to arrest him.
