A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court on Monday sentenced Kwabena Fante, a labourer, to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour for stealing three big wielding cylinders valued at 162,000 Ghana Cedis.
The accused pleaded guilty.
Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Godwin Bawa, said a private contractor working on a Ghana Water Company Limited project put its wielding cylinders in a bush at Sofokrom.
He said at about 11.30 a.m. on April 4 this year, the accused hired a taxi driven by Samuel Kwakye, the complainant, to convey three of the cylinders to the Essikado Gas Filling Station.
Sergeant Bawa said on reaching the gas filling station, the accused asked the complainant to take him to Ekuase.
He said the complainant became suspicious and questioned the accused about the cylinders, but he could not give any tangible answer.
Sergeant Bawa said the complainant arrested the accused with the help of other people and handed him over to the Police.
He said the accused admitted the offence in his caution statement and after investigations, he was charged.