Ashaiman circuit court jails car thief 10- years,remands accomplice demands into police custody

The Ashaiman circuit court has slapped a notorious car-thief with a 10-year jail term in hard labour.

Julius Kumodrdzi was found guilty,  convicted and sentenced to 10-years in prison on his own plea of guilt for dishonestly appropriating a Sprinter Mini Benz with registration number GE 2576-16 valued at GHS 80,000.00, the property of one Ebenezer Nortsivor. 

Isaac Ayikode Nartey,  an accomplice of the first accused is remanded in police custody in view of the nature of punishment upon conviction. 

Charged on two counts of stealing contrary to section 124(1) of the criminal offences Act 1960(Act 29) and Abetment of crime, namely stealing contrary to sections 20(1) and 124(1) of the criminal offences Act 1960(Act 29), the first accused person was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to 10-years in prison in hard labour while the second accused person was remanded in view of the nature of punishment upon conviction.

The case was adjourned to 15-01-2024 @10:00 am for mention.

The court was presided by His Honour Simon Nketiah Gaga.

Prosecution:Presenting the D/CPL. Patrick Sorsey in charge case,Chief Inspector Samuel Aperweh told the court that the complainant, Ebenezer Nortsivor, a 26-year old driver while the first accused person,Julius Kumordzi is a driver of 31 years and the second accused Isaac Ayikode Nartey is a barber of 20 years, all whom reside at New Town and Lebanon, suburbs of Ashaiman.

On December 20,2023, the complainant reported to police station at about 0530 hours with documents of his sprinter mini bus with registration number GE 2576-16 valued at GHS 80,000.00 and hat on the 19 December,2023 at about 2130 hours, he parked the said vehicle at Nii Amui Park.

Chief Inspector Samuel Aperweh told the court that the complainant upon going to the Nii Amui park the following day, did not find the vehicle but tyre marks on the ground.

The Prosecutor further told the court that a wireless message was sent to all station to look out and arrest anyone in possession of the said Sprinter bus.

He told the court that on 21 December,2023 at about 0930 hours, a witness in the case, Bismark Akwesi Opoku informed the Korle-Bu police that A1 and A2 were in possession of the vehicle at Korle-Bu mortuary gate and willing to sell same to a scrap dealer at GHS20,000.00.

The witness then suspected that the vehicle might have been stolen from the owner.A1 and A2 were arrested and handed over to the Ashaiman police together with the vehicle.

The prosecutor further told the court that A1 and complainant were friends and as such, A1 was formerly the complainant's mate for about a year and half. 

The prosecutor said on the 19 December,2023, A1 who intended to travel to Dubai and having in his possession one of the ignition keys to the vehicle,parked his luggage into the vehicle drove off with A2 on board.

A1 told A2 of his intentions to sell the vehicle so he sought for his assistance and he agreed knowing very well that the vehicle does not belong to A1.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons loaded passengers along while driving to Kasoa.

When all passengers alightedChief Inspector Aperweh told the court that, the two accused persons were desperately looking for a scrap dealer to buy the vehicle with the intent of decoupling it.

The accused persons in their search for a potential buyer, ended up at Korle-Bu and landed into the hands of the witness, who suspected them of having stolen the vehicle based on their demeanor.

The witness then informed the Korle-Bu police who later arrested them.A1 and A2 in their respective cautious statements obtained in the presence of an independent witness admitted to the act.

Police retrieved the vehicle as well as the ignition key from A1 and after investigations, A1 and A2 were charged with the offence and put before court.