The Nalerigu District Court presided over by Robert Agbleze has convicted a notorious motorbike thief, Wahidu Abdulai alias, Sule to a 36-month prison term with hard labour for series of thefts in the area.
His accomplice, Ibrahim Iddrisu alias, officer, a vulcanizer who was charged for dishonestly receiving was fined 200 penalty units equivalent to GH�2,400 or in default spend 12 months in the prison.
The presiding magistrate, before convicting the accused persons, noted with serious concern the conduct of the first accused person who has made several appearances before the court in the past for similar offences. He disclosed that his conviction would serve as a reformation measure to other unscrupulous young men in the area who have gained notoriety in stealing motorbikes.
Giving the facts of the case, Corporal Mawuli O. Agbe told the court that the complainant in the case is a teacher at Nakpanduri while the first and second accused persons are residents of Sakogu and Nagboo respectively.
The complainant on June 25, 2013, went to BESFA Rural Bank at Nakpanduri on his Hoajin motorbike to withdraw money. Before entering the bank he parked the bike under a tree, but on his return realized the bike was nowhere to be found.
Prosecution disclosed to the court that the complainant organized a search party to look for his motorbike, as he was hinted that the first accused was spotted around the precincts of the bank, but to no avail.
He was reported to have invoked a dreaded god in the area on the one who had stolen the bike, pleading with the unforgiving god to strike the thief dead.
The first accused person, who had by then sold the motorbike worth GH�2,000 to the second accused person at GH�500 but had been paid GH�150 of the amount, feared for his life and therefore attempted stealing another bike to make up for the first one in order not to incur the wrath of the god.
He was reported to have succeeded but was spotted by the teacher who suspected the bike he was riding might have also been stolen and hinted the police.
The suspect was subsequently arrested. He admitted the Sukida motorbike he was riding was stolen from a farmer in Gambaga, indicating it was to replace that of the teacher who invoked the curses. He indicated to investigators that his first booty was sold to the second accused person and he was also arrested. In his caution statement, he admitted the offence.
Both were arraigned before the court, where they were convicted on their own pleas by the trial magistrate.
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