THREE DRIVER'S MAES CONVICTED (MIRROR, PAGE 19, AUGUST 7, 2010)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

The desire of three driver's mates to ransack their neighbour and feed on the booty looted, backfired, when they were caught red handed after they had broken into the apartment and made away with quantities of electrical appliances, clothing and footwear estimated at GH¢3,800.
The three who, pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally and unlawfully causing damage, unlawful entry and stealing, were convicted on their own plea to serve five year jail term each by a Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr D.P.W. Amediour.
A day after Martin Abdulai , 21, had broken into the apartment at Sepe Dotim, a suburb of Kumasi and made away with quantities of valuable household items, he hinted two others, Sanusi Alhassan and Zaidu Kasim about his adventure and the booty he looted from the apartment and enticed them to try their luck.
Luck, however, eluded the two as they were caught red handed moments after they had succeeded in looting many electrical appliances including clothing and footwear from the apartment through a window they had broken and used as entry point.
They were arrested on July 17, 2010, a day after Martin Abdulai had broken into the apartment and a search conducted by the police made it possible for them to retrieve the items looted from the apartment at Sepe Dotim.
The items retrieved included two Sonny video cameras, three JVC video cameras, three football boots, two DVD players, three Philip speakers, six shoes, a digital clock, a digital camera ,a Samsung player, 12 VCD players, a travelling bag containing quantity of clothing, and sound system estimated at GH¢3,800.00
Giving the facts before the court, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Regina Addo Yobo, said the complainant has been taking care of an apartment at Sepe Dotim .
She explained that the owner had travelled abroad and left the apartment in the care of the complainant who is a businessman.
According to the prosecutor, the caretaker who is also a businessman always leaves for work during the daytime and returns late.
She said the convicts took advantage of the situation and on July 16, 2010, Martin Abdulai broke into the house by removing strong iron bars which had been built into a window .
She said during that operation, Abdulai succeeded in looting a number of electrical gadgets, clothing and household items from the apartment.
She said the items looted included two VCD decks , three football boots , three video cameras , three speakers , a travelling bag containing a number of items and documents as well as four shoes , 12 VCD players, a digital clock and adaptors.
DSP Addo Yobo said after the operation, Abdulai went to brief Sanusi Alhassan and Zaidu Kasim about his adventure and the booty he looted from the apartment and managed to entice them to try their luck , explaining that there would be no threat.
She said based on the assurance, Alhassan and Kasim also used the window as their entry point on July 17,2010 and made away with a number of items.
She said unfortunately for the two, the caretaker did not go to town that day and was washing when he heard an unusual noise.
According to the prosecutor, the caretaker succeeded in tracing the noise, and just saw the two escaping with their booty.
She said upon seeing the two, he chased them and succeeded in arresting them ,and when questioned about their action, they mentioned Abdulai as the one who masterminded the operation.