A Ghanaian court has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Ebenezer Frimpong, to one month in prison after he pleaded guilty to attempting to steal a police armoured vehicle.
The incident occurred in April this year when Frimpong allegedly entered and drove off with the police vehicle after its driver briefly stopped at a roadside pharmacy to buy medication.
The driver, General Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi, told the court that he was transporting the armoured vehicle to a workshop when he parked by the roadside and stepped into the pharmacy. During his absence, Frimpong climbed into the vehicle and drove away.
According to BBC pidgin, Police officers launched a hot pursuit and eventually apprehended the suspect. He was subsequently charged with attempting to steal the armoured vehicle.
During the trial, the presiding judge, Jephtha Appau, ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Frimpong was mentally fit to stand trial. The medical assessment found him competent, after which he pleaded guilty to the charge.
In delivering judgment, Judge Appau sentenced Frimpong to one month in prison. The judge said the relatively light sentence was influenced by the defendant’s youth and his decision to plead guilty promptly, thereby saving the court’s time.
