Hohoe: The Hohoe Circuit Court has sentenced Seth Agbavor, a commercial motor rider, to 15 years in prison for stealing. Seth's wife, Geraldo Akweley, a trader, was fined GH?3,600 or, in default, will serve two years in prison for dishonestly receiving stolen items. Additionally, the court ordered Akweley to sign a bond of good behavior for five years. Meanwhile, another suspect, Bismark, remains at large.
According to Ghana News Agency, the couple appeared before the court on November 16, 2023, where they both pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Despite this, they were fully tried, found guilty, and subsequently convicted. The prosecution was led by Inspector Rachel Osei Agyapomaa, who informed the court, presided over by Mr. Lambert Y. Keriba, that Agbavor was already known to the judicial system due to a prior conviction for a similar crime. During the trial process, it was revealed that Agbavor had committed another theft while on bail and was already serving a ten-year sentence for it.
Inspector Agyapomaa asked the court for an enhanced punishment for Agbavor, aiming to deter others from similar offenses. She also sought a fitting punishment for Akweley to deter women from aiding their husbands in criminal activities. The inspector recounted how the complainant, a teacher, returned home on November 1, 2023, to find his home burglarized, with various items, including a standing fridge, TV, and laptop, among others, stolen.
The complainant received information from a witness that Agbavor and another person were seen near his property shortly before the burglary. This led to Agbavor's arrest on November 13, 2023. Despite denying involvement, he led the police to a witness's house instead of his accomplice, Bismark, who remains at large. The investigation further revealed that Akweley attempted to sell a stolen laptop to secure bail for Agbavor, leading to her arrest and subsequent confession.
Akweley admitted to receiving and keeping stolen items, including a laptop, phone, and decoder, in her room. The police recovered these items, and the complainant identified them as his stolen property. The case continues with efforts to locate and apprehend Bismark.
