22-Year-Old Rider Remanded Over GH¢42,000 Pragya Theft

The Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region has remanded a 22-year-old auto-rickshaw rider, Ali Francis, into police custody after he pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing an auto-rickshaw valued at GH¢42,000.

The remand order was issued by the presiding judge, His Lordship Simon Nketiah Gagah, on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

The prosecution, led by Detective Chief Inspector Favour Adukpoe, told the court that the complainant, Razak Antwi, is a commercial tricycle rider residing at Kyebi, while the accused, Ali Francis, also a rider, resides at Mampong.

According to the prosecution, there had been a series of reported cases of auto-rickshaw theft in Nsuta and its surrounding communities.

The court heard that in August 2026, the complainant entrusted his auto-rickshaw, popularly known as a ‘Pragya’, with registration number M-25-AP 598, to a witness, Yaw Badu, for commercial operations.

On September 12, 2026, at about 1:00 p.m., the witness, who was reportedly unwell, handed the tricycle over to the accused to use for only that day.

However, the accused took possession of the vehicle and disappeared with it to an unknown destination.

The prosecution said a report was subsequently made to the Nsuta Police on September 14, 2026, prompting officers to accompany the complainant to the accused’s residence at Mampong, but he could not be found.

On September 15, 2026, the complainant received information that the accused was hiding at Kumasi-Tinka with the stolen tricycle. However, a follow-up search proved unsuccessful.

The prosecution further told the court that on October 28, 2026, at about 5:00 p.m., the accused was spotted at Ejura Township using the stolen tricycle for commercial activities.

He was subsequently arrested by the complainant and the witness and handed over to the Nsuta Police together with the vehicle for investigation.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted the offence in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness.

The prosecution further disclosed that the stolen tricycle had been retrieved, but its engine had been damaged by the accused, rendering it unusable.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing, and the court remanded him into police custody.

The case was adjourned to November 6, 2026, for conviction and sentencing.

@KINGSOLOMON JINGLE FM ASANTE MAMPONG