Tricycle Rider Jailed 3 Years For Stealing Phone, Battery And Cash From Colleague
The Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region has sentenced a 21-year-old tricycle rider, Clement Agyekum, alias Kofi Nsiah, to three years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to stealing a motor battery, a Samsung A16 smartphone and GH¢1,800 in cash.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by the presiding judge, His Lordship Simon Nketiah Gagah.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector C.K. Gyesi, told the court that the accused, a resident of Krobo near Mampong, stole the items from a fellow tricycle rider, Akwasi Agyei, 39, who resides at Mampong.
According to the prosecution, sometime in September 2026, the complainant transported some passengers to Adeimbra in Mampong and was asked to wait for them to complete their business before taking them back.
While waiting, the complainant fell asleep in his tricycle. The accused, who had also dropped off some passengers in the area, noticed him sleeping, quietly entered the tricycle and stole a motor battery, a Samsung A16 smartphone valued together at GH¢3,550, and GH¢1,800 in cash.
The prosecution said the accused subsequently removed the SIM card from the stolen phone and used it to contact a prosecution witness, Lukuman.
Unaware of the theft, the complainant later visited an MTN office to replace his SIM card.
On November 1, 2026, at about 8:00 a.m., the complainant received a call from Lukuman, who wanted to speak with the owner of the phone, believing the number belonged to the accused because he had received a call from it a day after the theft.
The complainant subsequently arranged a meeting with Lukuman, whose assistance enabled him to identify the accused.
On November 5, 2026, the complainant reported the matter to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest.
During police interrogation and in his caution statement, the accused admitted stealing the items and the money but claimed he had spent the cash.
He further alleged that the phone was later stolen from him, while the battery had been given to a friend identified as Kwame, who is currently at large.
When put before the court, the accused pleaded guilty with an explanation, admitting that he took the money but insisting that the amount was GH¢1,500 rather than GH¢1,800.
He also maintained that the phone had subsequently been stolen from him.
However, the court entered a plea of guilty, explaining that whether the amount taken was GH¢1,500 or GH¢1,800, the act still constituted stealing, before sentencing him to three years’ imprisonment.
