Isaac Tetteh, a 21-year-old carpenter, described by the police as a notorious goat thief, was on Thursday sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Kade District Magistrate Court, for stealing and slaughtering 10 goats.
Tetteh pleaded guilty to stealing the goats belonging to eight farmers but explained that he was not alone in the operation and that his two other accomplices had not been charged.
The Judge, Mr Kwaku Baah Frimpong explained that the prosecution thought he was the only person who should be charged for the offence and he could therefore not do anything about it.
In addition, the court ordered that after serving the sentence, Tetteh should pay GH¢ 50.00 each to the first seven complainants and another GH¢ 150.00 to the eighth complainant who lost three goats.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector E. T Zorh, said all the eight complainants had their goats stolen by Tetteh in a single night operation at Asuom in the Kwaebibirem District.
He said at about 0200 hours on September 5, a witness spotted a taxi cab with registration number GR 7877-09 at a spot at Asuom.
The prosecutor said suspecting that the occupants of the taxi were up to some fishy deal, the witness alerted his friend and they together laid ambush.
At about 0400 hours, the witness and his friend saw Tetteh carrying a load, which he put in the boot of the taxi.
When they raised the alarm Tetteh and his accomplices abandoned the taxi and fled.
The prosecutor said when the taxi was searched it was found to contain 10 slaughtered goats.
He said the Chief of Asuom, was informed who reported the matter to the police.
Inspector Zorh said during investigation, the driver of the taxi assisted the police in mounting a check point on the Asuom - Kade road and Tetteh was arrested when he tried to leave Asuom.
Later, the eight complainants identified the goats as belonging to them.
The prosecutor informed the court that Tetteh was a notorious thief, who stole many goats in various towns in the Eastern Region and was to appear before the Asamankese Circuit court on a similar offence.