We recently saw a case where a 22-year-old shop attendant, Paulina Boateng, was fined 100 penalty units (GH¢1,200) and sentenced to serve a day in prison by an Accra Circuit Court for stealing GH₵39,385 from a Telecommunication shop. Boateng pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and was convicted on her own plea.
The presiding judge, Isaac Addoh, stated that in default of the fine, Boateng would serve 12 months’ imprisonment. Additionally, she was ordered to pay the remaining balance of the stolen money to the complainant.
During the court proceedings, a lawyer acting as a friend of the court, Lord Delvin Essandoh, appealed for leniency on the grounds that Boateng was a first-time offender and had shown remorse for her actions by making partial repayment of the stolen amount. He also emphasized that she did not waste the time of the court and had her whole life ahead of her. As such, he urged the court to consider these factors and impose the minimum possible sentence for the offense.
The prosecution, led by Police Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, confirmed that the convict was not previously known to law enforcement. The facts presented by the prosecution revealed that Boateng was employed as a shop attendant by the owner of the shop, which specialized in selling electrical prepaid services and mobile money for various telecommunication networks. Subsequently, an internal auditor discovered that a substantial amount of money had been misappropriated by Boateng.
Following the complaint filed by the shop supervisor, Boateng was arrested and admitted to the offense during the investigation. She confessed to taking an amount of GH¢15,000 and GH¢20,000, with the latter being recorded as bad debt. However, she did refund an amount of GH¢9,000 as part of the repayment for the misappropriated funds.
This case serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in unlawful activities and the importance of accountability. It also highlights the role of the legal system in addressing such matters. As members of society, it is crucial to uphold ethical standards and respect the rule of law to maintain a just and orderly community.
-source GNA | curated by Aisha Yakubu | GhanaCrimes
