Technician in court for stealing from church

A 40-year old self-styled optical technician who went to the Legon Interdenominational Church to steal during a book launch has been put before an Accra Circuit Court.

Isaac Kojo Smith is said to have made away with various valuables of one Dr Yaw Perbi, a Canadian based medical officer and missionary.

Inspector Martin Acheampong, the prosecutor, said Smith allegedly stole one Dell laptop computer, Ipad, Blackberry phone and an external drive, totalling $2,400.  

Charged with stealing, Smith denied the offence.

The Court presided over by Mrs Ruby Naa Adjaley Quaison has admitted Smith to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties.

The sureties are to present valid photo Identity Cards while Smith is also to report to the case investigator every Tuesday and Thursday until varied by the Court.

Smith is expected to reappear on March 23.

Inspector Acheampong said on December 13, last year Dr Perbi launched a book at the aforementioned church at the Legon Campus and Smith attended the event.

Prosecution said Dr Perbi left his bag under his seat and was chatting with his friends when the accused person stole the bag containing the afore-stated items.

According to Inspector Acheampong Smith sent the bag with its contents to the washroom of the church and transferred the said items into his own bag and bolted. 

Prosecution said Dr Perbi after the programme did not find his bag under his seat and informed the security guards on duty at the church who later found the empty bag at the washroom.

A complaint was lodged at the Legon Police station where it was detected during investigation that Smith used the number of the stolen phone to make calls and the itemized bill of the number was obtained from MTN.

Inspector Acheampong said on February 13 police intelligence led to the arrest of one Felix Asante at Akosombo who was in regular communication with the stolen phone number adding that when Felix was interrogated he mentioned Smith as the one who had been communicating with him using Dr Perbi’s stolen phone number and led the police to arrest the accused at the Christ the King Church in Accra.

The prosecutor said the accused disclosed that he sold the said items to somebody at Kwame Nkrumah Circle but could not lead the police to the said person.