An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday handed a 20-year jail term to one John Selasi Wills, a driver, for conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, stealing, causing unlawful damage and having possession of stolen property.
John pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri.
He is to serve 10 years for conspiracy, 15 years for unlawful entry, 20 years for stealing, two years for causing unlawful harm and five years for having possession of stolen property, all to run concurrently.
One of his accomplices, Mohammed Yakubu, who was also charged for dishonesty receiving, was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Chief Superintendent of Police Duuti Tuaruka told the court that the complainant, Solomon Dankwah Mills, was a businessman and resided at Adenta Housing.
He is lso a caretaker of his brother, Kwabena Wadie’s house who lives in Holland.
He said the convict claimed to be a driver and a carpenter. On November 17, 2012, John and two his accomplices now at large, went to Kwabena’s house and made away with his Mercedes Benz, home theatre, Sony Hifi watches, 42 inches Plasma TV, UNI Plasma TV, one Sony Laptop, two wrist watches, and unspecified dollars.
He told the court that the complainant who went to inspect the house detected the theft and made a report to the Adenta police.
The prosecution said, some months later, John approached a witness in the case, that he was selling a car, the witness showed interest, and asked John to show him the car.
He said John then agreed to show where the car was parked and the witness thereafter informed the police who after receipt of the information detailed personnel to the Volta Region to arrest John, but he was not met and the vehicle was brought to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters.
Chief Superintendent of Police Tuaruka said John and his two accomplices had wind of the operation of the police and went into hiding.
He said on July 24, 2013, John who vacated his place of abode was arrested at Spintex junction and in his cautioned statement he admitted the offence and mentioned the witness as his accomplice.
John told the police that he and his accomplices went to one Prince Sarpongs’s house and one other house, broke into the houses and stole similar items together with two pump action guns.
According to the prosecution, John also revealed that he sold his pump action gun to one Joseph Ampofo, which was retrieved later, and also mentioned Mohammed as the one who received five Plasma TV sets from him but Mohammed denied receiving any items.
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(Selorm) | 
(Nana Kwesi)