Illegal miner remanded in custody for stealing school properties

A 21-year-old illegal miner has been remanded into prison custody by the Nkawie Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region for allegedly stealing property of the Asuowin D/A Junior High School.

The plea of Emmanuel Boakye Mensah Bekoe was not taken as police investigations were still ongoing.

He is expected to be brought back to court on October 28, 2026, to answer charges of causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry, and stealing.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Frank Acheampong, the prosecuting officer, told the court presided over by Robert Addo that the complainant in the case was the Headmaster of the Asuowin D/A Junior High School.

The accused person was an illegal miner and resident of Asuowin in the Amansie West District.

He said on October 12, 2026, at about 7:30am, the complainant went to school and detected that the metal burglar-proof door and lock to his office valued at GH₵9,500.00 was damaged.

The Prosecution said after a careful inspection, the complainant realized that a 43-inch television set, a fridge, seven laptop computers, a tabletop computer and an amount of GH₵1,000, all valued at GH₵31,000, belonging to the school had been stolen.

A report was made to the Asuowin police, and the accused person, who was known to the police, was arrested on suspicion.

In his caution statement, he admitted the theft and led the police to his room, where the television set and refrigerator were retrieved.

After the police's preliminary investigation, he was charged and brought before the court.