A driver, Nicholas Sarpong has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly stealing a Hyundai i10 taxi cab valued at GH¢30,000, the property of an aluminum fabricator, Salifu Alandu.
Sarpong, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢40,000 with two justified sureties. As part of the bail conditions, he is required to deposit his Ghana Card with the registry of the court and report to the police every two weeks.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Inspector Emelia Mensah and is presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit.
Case Background
According to the brief facts presented in court, the complainant, Salifu Alandu, a resident of Fadama in Accra, owns a Hyundai i10 taxi cab with registration number GS 5253-22. In September 2023, he entrusted the vehicle to the accused, Nicholas Sarpong, who resides in Lapaz, to use for commercial purposes and remit weekly sales of GH¢500.
However, on February 18, 2024, Sarpong contacted the complainant’s wife and reported that the vehicle had been stolen from him at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital. A formal complaint was filed with the police, and Sarpong was subsequently arrested.
During investigations, Sarpong claimed that on February 16, a passenger hired his services to the hospital. He alleged that while waiting for the passenger under a mango tree on the hospital premises, he left the engine running with the keys in the ignition.
He further claimed he lost consciousness, and by the time he recovered, the passenger had vanished with the vehicle.
After reviewing the details of the case, the police charged Sarpong with stealing, and he was brought before the court for trial.
