Coconut thief harms septuagenarian
As if stealing four coconuts —worth GH¢2—was not enough, Kojo Sengo (20) in a failed bid to escape allegedly inflicted a deep cut on the forehead and left ribs of the owner of the coconut, Seidu Morro (70), at Agona Nantefa.
When Sengo subsequently appeared before the Agona Swedru Circuit Court, presided over by Mr N.K E. Osam, he pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge of causing harm and stealing.
Mr Osam, therefore, entered a plea of not guilty on Sengo’s behalf in respect of the causing harm charge in view of his explanation that although he stole the coconuts out of hunger, the injury he inflicted on Morro was unintentional.
The judge, however, convicted Sengo on his own plea of guilty for stealing and imposed a fine of 40 penalty units (equivalent to GH¢480). Sengo will go to prison for two months with hard labour if he defaults the fine.
In connection with the charge of causing harm, however, the presiding judge granted Sengo a GH¢20,000 bail to appear later “if only he is able to pay the fine.”
Inspector S. Opoku-Mensah told the court that Morro is a farmer who resides in the same vicinity with Sengo, a coconut seller at Agona Nantefa, near Agona Swedru.
He said for some time now the old man had been experiencing thefts of coconuts from his backyard garden, without seeing the perpetrators until that fateful day, May 27, 2013.
According to the prosecutor, Morro heard an unusual noise in his backyard garden on that day and went there, only to find Sengo on a coconut tree.
He said Sengo descended from the coconut tree a few minutes later after plucking four coconuts and when Morro held him ostensibly to escort him to his (Sengo’s) parents, a struggle ensued between the two but he managed to escape.
Inspector Opoku-Mensah said before Sengo escaped from the grip of Morro, he slashed him with the machete he was holding.
According to Inspector Opoku-Mensah, the case was reported to the police who went to arrest Sengo.
From Ekow Yamoah, Agona Swedru
The Mirror/ Ghana