The Akim Oda Magistrate Court has sentenced Emmanuel Agyekum to 36 months imprisonment in hard labour for causing damage and stealing 32 pieces of assorted wax prints.
The items were the property of Madam Faustina Adu-Gyamfi, a seamstress.
The accused, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing damage and stealing and was sentenced to 18 months prison term, to run consecutively.
One Kwabena, an accomplice is on the run.
Michael Gye-Nyame, 21, a farmer who purchased the wax prints pleaded guilty to dishonestly receiving and the court presided over by Mr Albert Owusu Annor imposed a fine of GH¢200 on him.
Gye-Nyame was also ordered by the court to pay additional GH¢100 as compensation to Madam Adu-Gyamfi, or in default serve 18 months jail term.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kwadwo Ahenkorah told the court that the complainant Madam Adu-Gyamfi lives at Akim Oda, while the convicts reside at Akim Oda Old Town.
At about 0730 hours on February 21, this year the complainant detected the theft of her 32 pieces of assorted wax prints from her shop and therefore, reported the matter to the Akim Oda Police.
He said during investigation, a witness in the case informed the police that he strongly suspected Agyekum and one Kwabena, who was serving a prison term at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.
Chief Inspector Ahenkorah stated that six of the wax prints were retrieved from Agyekum’s room during a search by the police which Madam Adu-Gyamfi identified as part of her stolen wax prints.
He said on February 24 Agyekum was arrested from his hideout and mentioned Kwabena as his accomplice and also led the police to arrest Gye-Nyame who bought seven of the wax prints for GH¢90 and at the time of his arrest, he had sown two sets out of the prints.