- Kingsford Nii Sackey sentenced to one day in prison for stealing window net frames worth GH¢30,875.
- He was fined GH¢6,000 and 500 penalty units; failure to pay could result in six additional months in jail.
- Sackey was caught at 2:40 a.m. carrying stolen items from a Dansoman construction site.
- He admitted to stealing eight frames, though 65 were recovered.
- The court considered his guilty plea and the value of the items in sentencing.
A 34-year-old labourer has been sentenced to one day in prison and fined GH¢6,000 after pleading guilty to stealing window net frames valued at GH¢30,875 from a construction site in Dansoman, Accra. The Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Susana Eduful, also imposed an additional fine of 500 penalty units — with a default penalty of three months in prison.
The convict, Kingsford Nii Sackey, was arrested on September 1 after being caught leaving the site with two polythene bags containing 65 window net frames, each valued at GH¢475. The items were discovered by warehouse keeper Michael Essien, who became suspicious after observing Sackey’s attempt to hide the bags.
Sackey, who lived and worked at the same site, admitted during police investigations to stealing only eight of the frames, not the full quantity claimed by the complainant. Nonetheless, the court considered the total value of the items and Sackey’s guilty plea in delivering its sentence.
The case has sparked debate over sentencing consistency, with some observers questioning the leniency of a one-day jail term for a theft involving tens of thousands of cedis. Legal analysts note that the fines imposed — particularly the 500 penalty units — reflect the court’s attempt to balance punishment with Sackey’s admission of guilt and lack of prior convictions.
