A 35-year-old mason, Etornam Kojo Biekro, has been sentenced to three months in prison by the Adentan Magistrates Court in the Greater Accra Region for stealing iron rods valued at GH¢23,000.
Biekro, who pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing, requested the court to grant him time to pay for the stolen iron rods. However, the court, presided over by Ms. Nancy Adadey, sentenced him to prison and ordered him to pay for the cost of the stolen materials after serving his jail term.
According to Chief Inspector Ebenezer Addo, the prosecutor, the complainant, Stephen Senayo, purchased the iron rods for his building project in Ablor-Adjei. He entrusted the materials to Biekro, his employee, for safekeeping at the uncompleted building.
When Senayo discovered that all the iron rods had been stolen in his absence, he reported the incident to the Akporman Police Post. Biekro admitted to using the stolen materials for another client’s project but failed to repay the complainant as promised.
Despite being released on police enquiry bail, Biekro failed to return the stolen iron rods as agreed and was subsequently re-arrested. The court heard that the accused confessed to the crime in his caution statement but still did not fulfill his promise to refund the stolen materials.
The verdict serves as a warning to individuals engaging in theft and dishonest practices. The need for accountability and trustworthiness in business transactions and employee relationships has been emphasized by this case.
