An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a shop attendant to three years imprisonment for stealing cosmetics valued at GH₵174,640.00 belonging to his employer.
Samuel Botchway pleaded guilty to stealing boxes of cosmetics valued at GH₵158,640.00 and four boxes of the same products valued at GHC16,000.00 on different occasions.
Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour on the theft of cosmetic products valued at GH₵158,640.00 and six months on the theft of the same items valued at GH₵16,000.00 without hard labour.
Both sentences, the court said, are to run concurrently.
Police Chief Inspector Eric Pobee told the Court that Madam Vida Arhin-Duah, the complainant was a trader and resident of Ablekuma Joma, whilst Botchway, the convict, resided at Bortianor, both in Accra.
The prosecution said the complainant operated a shop at Mokala Shopping Mall and sold cosmetics and beauty supplies, with Botchway assisting her since 2021 as a shop attendant and warehouse keeper.
The complainant had two warehouses, one at Ablekuma Joma and the other in the same Mokola Mall building.
The prosecution said before the theft, the complainant was experiencing shortages in the shop and warehouse.
The prosecution said on May 16, 2023, at about 0930 hours, whilst the complainant’s shop had been opened for business, Botchway was seen counting money in one of the shops within Okaishie Market belonging to a witness, one Latifa Rashid.
The court heard that the complainant rushed to Botchway to find out what he was doing and not in her shop.
The prosecution said Latifa told the complainant that Botchway had been her regular customer who supplied her with cosmetic products and that he had supplied her with four(4) boxes of gel polish on May 13, 2023.
So, he had come to receive payment of GH₵ 12,800.00.
The prosecution said Latifa added that between December 2022 and April 2023, Botchway had supplied her with the following cosmetics products in boxes; body Splash, six, Cobra, six, one Gel Polish Luminous, one Gel Polish Base, Nude Gel Polish, three, Top Coat, three, Gel Polish Mix Colour, three, one Lip Shine, one Wig Cup Smooth and Wig Cup Green (dome cup), which she paid for.
The prosecution said the complainant invited the police to the witness’ shop, where Botchway was arrested and sent to a police station.
The prosecution said Botchway admitted the offence in his statement, and after investigation, he was charged with the crime and put before the court.
