Two Brothers Jailed For Stealing Mangoes

Two brothers, Sampson Ababio and Joseph Ababio, who stole 10 bags of exotic mangoes from a farm at Somanya, ran out of luck when they were arrested on the farm where they stole the mangoes. Sampson Ababio and Joseph Ababio, both labourers, pleaded guilty to the entire offences of conspiracy to commit crime, stealing and abetment of crime when they appeared before the Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court. Collins Kwao, a driver, who was jointly charged with the brothers, pleaded not guilty and was discharged. His taxi which had been impounded was also released to him. In passing judgment, the Presiding judge, Mr. Asmah Akwasi Asiedu, considered the fact that mango stealing from farms at Somanya had become too rampant. He, therefore, sentence the Ababio brothers to nine months� imprisonment on each count, adding: �You always want to reap where you have not sown; this should serve as a deterrent to you and your likes who have been frustrating the hardworking mango farmers in this area.� The sentences are to run concurrently. Presenting the facts of the case, inspector Tobias Amoadza said the complaint, Ms Esther Ahuble, is a seamstress and a mango farmer who has a mango plantation at Somanya, along the Somanya � Akuse road. Sampson and Joseph as well as the taxi driver live at Somanya. He said for some time now thieves had been stealing the mangoes from the farm and all efforts made to arrest them had proved futile. According to Inspector Amoadza, on July 14, 2013, Ms Ahuble had a phone call from a witness that thieves had enter her farm and were harvesting her fruits. The prosecutors said later there was another call that the thieves had been arrested, together with the mangoes, and the taxi that was conveying the fruits had been impounded. Sampson and Joseph together with the exhibits were then handed over to the police. According to the prosecutor, the two admitted stealing the mangoes in their caution statement but indicated that the mangoes were not from Ms Ahuble�s farm. Kwao, however, explained that he was not part of the gang but he was just hired from the Somanya Roundabout to convey the mangoes from the farm.