Behind bars
* Slams 6 month jail sentence on man for illegal power connections
By Hillary Obayangbon, Accra.
Forty-four-year-old Samuel Etuah, a plumber, has been sentenced to six years for unlawful entry and stealing by the Hohoe Circuit Court.
On November 25, 2023, Etuah was put before the court.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was fully tried, found guilty, convicted, and sentenced to prison custody.
Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey, that the convict had once been tried and sentenced to jail.
He said the complainant was a farmer and businessman who owned a provision and mobile money business shop while the convict was a plumber.
Chief Inspector Aziati said on October 10 last year at about 0420 hours, the convict went and broke into the provision and mobile money shop and took cash of GH¢2,200.
He said by the time the convict was coming out from the complainant’s shop, a witness in the case saw him and pursued to arrest him but the convict managed to escape.
Chief Inspector Aziati said the convict’s mobile phone fell from his pocket at the scene and the witness called the complainant on phone who came to the shop with his wife, and they detected the theft of the said amount.
He said the complainant took the convict’s mobile phone that fell from his pocket to the police station and made an official report.
During investigations, it was established that the said phone belonged to the convict.
The Tamale District Court 1 has issued a stern warning against illegal power connections by sentencing Wahab Shiraz to six months in prison with hard labour, without the option of a fine.
Presiding over the case, His Worship Justice Derrick Annan also imposed a fine of 500 penalty units, equivalent to GHS 6,000, to be paid to the state.
Additionally, the court ordered Shiraz to pay GHS 10,096.55 to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), which represents the estimated value of the electricity he had stolen.
The court stipulated that if Shiraz failed to pay the GH¢6,000 fine, he would face an additional seven months in prison, potentially extending his total jail term to 13 months.
Shiraz, a resident of Bulpella in Tamale, pleaded guilty to the charge of “interference with the electricity distribution system” under Rule 41(2A) and 1(6) of the Electricity Supply and Distribution Rules 2005 (L.I. 1816).
His illegal activities were uncovered during NEDCo’s Mass Revenue Mobilisation Exercise in December 2023.
After receiving an illegal connection notice and failing to report for investigation, Shiraz’s case was referred to the Tamale police, leading to his prosecution and conviction.
Following the sentencing, NEDCo’s legal representative, Ms. Esther Yirbom, urged the public to avoid illegal power connections and to take advantage of NEDCo’s resolution options.
She highlighted that suspects who cooperate by paying for stolen power and signing a bond of good behaviour might face reduced penalties if their cases go to court.
Ms. Yirbom emphasised that while these measures do not absolve the offense, they could mitigate the severity of punishment.
She warned against illegal power connections to avoid severe consequences similar to those faced by Shiraz.
About Author
