Asante abuakwa: A 24-year-old labourer has been remanded into prison custody by the Asante Abuakwa circuit court in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality for allegedly stealing five mobile phones at Asakraka, near Abuakwa.

According to Ghana News Agency, James Mensah pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing and will reappear before the court, presided by Mr. Jephthah Appau, on October 03. Police Chief Inspector Evans Ayimbisa, prosecuting, informed the court that the complainants, Richard Opoku, Francis Mensah, John Bonayaa, and William Yenkyeibe, were small-scale miners residing at Asakraka. The suspect, James Mensah, was a labourer living near their mining site.

On September 08, at approximately 20:00 hours, the complainants placed their mobile phones-one iPhone 13, two iPhone 12 Pro Maxes, one Samsung Galaxy S21, and a Samsung A8-valued at GHC 35,700 in a bag at a specific spot before engaging in their mining activities. They later noticed Mensah roaming near the area and subsequently discovered the bag empty and abandoned in the bush.

The complainants suspected Mensah after he disappeared from the cottage for about a week following the incident. He was eventually located at Asakraka, arrested, and handed over to the Atwima Kokoben police. In his caution statement, Mensah reportedly admitted to the theft, stating that he sold two of the phones for GHc 1,050, exchanged one for an Infinix phone at Adum-PZ, and used the proceeds.

The prosecution revealed that Mensah was unable to aid the police in locating the unidentified individual who received the stolen goods. Following further investigations, he was charged and brought before the court.