A 27-year-old man has been convicted and sentenced by the Hohoe Circuit Court for unlawfully entering a church premises and stealing musical equipment belonging to the church.
The convict, identified as Mohammed Rafiu, was sentenced following his arrest and prosecution by the Volta North Regional Police Command.
According to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta North Regional Police Headquarters in Hohoe, Rafiu was apprehended on June 5, 2026, after residents became suspicious of his actions near the Faith International Ministry Church in Hohoe.
Police said the accused was seen hurriedly carrying a sack filled with various items while attempting to hail a vehicle.
His behaviour raised suspicion among nearby witnesses, who intercepted him and inspected the contents of the sack.
Upon examination, the witnesses discovered several musical instruments and sound equipment believed to belong to the church.
The items recovered included an amplifier, an equalizer, a mixer, and a crossover machine.
The suspect was subsequently arrested and handed over to the Hohoe Police District Command for further investigations.
During police interrogation, Rafiu reportedly admitted to unlawfully entering the church premises and stealing the equipment.
Following investigations, he was arraigned before the Hohoe Circuit Court on Monday, June 8, 2026, where he pleaded guilty to two charges—unlawful entry and stealing.
The court convicted him on both counts and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for unlawful entry and four years for stealing.
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total prison term of four years.
The Volta North Regional Police Command has welcomed the conviction, describing it as a demonstration of the justice system’s commitment to tackling property-related crimes in the region.
The Command also commended the vigilance of members of the public whose swift intervention led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the stolen items before they could be disposed of.
Police further urged residents to remain alert and promptly report suspicious activities within their communities to law enforcement agencies to aid crime prevention and ensure public safety.
By 1960news.com
