An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old unemployed woman to two years’ imprisonment for unlawfully entering a church premises at the 48 Engineer Barracks at Teshie in the Greater Accra Region.
The convict, Amanda Pascal, who was accused of stealing assorted items, pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and theft. The court, presided over by Mrs Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, convicted her on her own plea and sentenced her to two years’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
Chief Inspector Abigail Offeibea, prosecuting, told the court that the stolen items included a deep fryer valued at GH¢1,500, a Bluetooth speaker worth GH¢3,423, 21 trumpet mouthpieces valued at GH¢6,820, a perfume worth GH¢586 and six tins of sardines valued at GH¢200. The items belonged to the complainant, Veronica Owusu Boateng.
The complainant, an emergency medical personnel at the 37 Military Hospital, resides at the Teshie Barracks, while the convict, a Nigerian national, lives at Teshie Lascala.
A review of the church’s CCTV footage showed the convict, who had been frequenting the barracks, entering the complainant’s room during the service and later leaving with bags containing the items. The matter was subsequently reported to the police.
She was spotted in the neighbourhood on February 17, arrested and taken to the police station together with some retrieved items.
In her caution statement, Amanda admitted to the offence and said she had used some of the items and discarded the trumpet mouthpieces. Only the deep fryer and the Bluetooth speaker were retrieved.
Proceedings took a dramatic turn when the trial judge enquired whether the convict had any previous convictions. Although the case investigator indicated that she had been jailed by the LEKMA District Court, Amanda told the court she had previously been convicted and sentenced by the same Circuit Court to nine months’ imprisonment.
In sentencing, the judge cautioned her to take advantage of rehabilitation programmes within the Ghana Prisons Service and reform her life, particularly as she has young children.
