Excavator operator gets 10 years with hard labour for stealing tricycle motorbike

A 27-year-old excavator operator, Faddy Paul Appiah, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour by the Tarkwa circuit court for stealing an Apsonic tricycle motorbike valued at GH¢20,000. 

Appiah who sold the tricycle motorbike for GH¢15,000 and collected GH¢7,500 as part payment pleaded guilty to the offence and was convicted accordingly by the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu.  

Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor, who led prosecution, said the complainant, Rockson Dapaah, a mason resided at Nyamekyekrom, a suburb of Bogoso, while Appiah resided at Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality. 

He said during the month of February 2024 the complainant bought an Apsonic tricycle motorbike with registration number M-23-WT 1206 for commercial purpose and handed over the same to Isaac Akuffo, a witness in the case.  

On July 20, 2024, while Akuffo was working the tricycle developed a fault and he informed the complainant who then directed him to see one master Koduah, a mechanic.  

Prosecution said on the same day at about 1830 hours, Akuffo went to park the faulty machine in master Koduah’s shop in his absence and left to his house, but when he returned the next day, the tricycle was missing.  

Akuffo informed the complainant, and he reported the matter to the Bogoso police, and on September 14, 2024, Adu Gyamfi was arrested at Bogoso with the stolen tricycle motorbike.  

He said during investigation, Adu Gyamfi revealed to the police that he bought the Apsonic tricycle motorbike from the convict for GH¢15,000 and made part payment of GH¢7,500, and promised to settle the balance if he produced the documents. 

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said Adu Gyamfi, was granted police enquiry bail to assist in investigation.  

On October 14, 2024, Adu Gyamfi alerted the police that he lured Appiah, and he was in a vehicle coming from Tarkwa Nsuaem to Bogoso for the money. 

Prosecution said at about 1130 hours Appiah was arrested by the police at Timtimhwe police post near Bogoso and handed over to the police in Bogoso.  

During interrogation Appiah told the police that on July 21, 2024, one Albert Koduah from Bogoso called him that he was bringing Apsonic tricycle motorbike to Tarkwa but had run out of fuel abandoned the machine on the Insu-Siding to Huni-Valley Road and left for his house.  

He said Appiah alleged he secretly went for the tricycle and sold it to Adu Gyamfi, but he failed to assist the police to apprehend  Albert Koduah for prosecution.