The Koforidua magistrate court was thrown into a state of laughter and bewilderment, when a 30-year-old suspect, pleaded with the court to incarcerate him in prison because he cannot afford to cater for himself in case he is discharged.
�Please, send me to prison, I cannot take care of myself when I go home,� Gariba who has been accused on two counts of unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage, pleaded with the presiding judge.
The spectators sat in disbelief as Mrs Priscilla Yeboah, the presiding judge, had earlier entered a plea of not guilty for the accused.
Gariba had earlier pleaded guilty on two counts of unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage. He was however, remanded into police custody as he refused to be discharged to reappear in court on March 11.
Prosecuting, Sergeant Owusu Ababio told the court that the complainant, Alhassan Abdulai, is a cobbler who resides at Zongo, a suburb of Koforidua and owns a drinking bar at Ada also in Koforidua.
He said on February 3, this year, at about 7:30 am, Abdulai heard an unusual noise in his locked bar and he decided to find out what was happening.
Sergeant Ababio said when Abdulai entered the bar, he attempted to arrest him but he took to his heels.
The police said Abdulai�s shouts of �thief!� �thief!� attracted neighbours to the scene. He was then grabbed by the neighbours and handed him over to the police.
Sergeant Ababio said, Gariba gained access to the bar by breaking through the back door.
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