Two Security Men Get 10 Years For Stealing

A Greater Accra Regional Tribunal on Wednesday sentenced two security men to 10 years’ imprisonment each for breaking into a warehouse and stealing items valued at GH¢ 17,474 cedis. The items belonged to Market Direct Company, distributors of Blue Jeans energy drink. Dickson Boni of Secpoint Security, 28, and Gabriel Ofei of Respond Assault and Tactical Security, 26, instead of guarding the warehouse against thieves rather broke into it. They pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing margarine, Viking Oil and assorted drinks. The court, however, found them guilty at the end of the trial and convicted them. It however, acquitted and discharged Nathaniel Nkansah, who is also a security man of Secpoint Security. Chief Inspector Majoire Otabil told the court, presided over by Mr. Justice Kwadwo Owusu, a High Court judge, that at about noon on February 5, Boni convinced Ofei, who was on duty at the warehouse, to allow him and another person to break into the warehouse and steal. The prosecution said the accused persons broke into the warehouse and made away with the items, which they later conveyed to one George Benbela. On February 6, Boni conveyed the stolen goods to Okaishie in the Central Business District of Accra and sold them to one Alhaji, now at large. The prosecution said on February 8 Boni was arrested at Shangri-La Hotel in Accra and he led the Police to Okaishie where some of the stolen goods were retrieved.