A teenage mother is bound to serve a nine-month prison term after she failed to pay a GHC720.00 imposed on her by the Half-Assini Magistrate’s Court in the Western Region for stealing.
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The 18-year-old  mother from Agona Swedru in the Central Region, Abena Serwaah, accused of stealing a hand bag containing a mobile phone and an unspecified amount of money from a store pleaded guilty.
However, the Court, presided over by Mr Abdul Majid Illiasu, ordered that since Serwaah said she could not pay the fine, her two-year old daughter, should  be sent to the nearest Orphanage, for the convict to serve her time and further ordered her to compensate the complainant with Gh¢500.00.
The prosecutor, Police Sergeant Isaac Ebo Otoo, told the Court that at about 0730 hours, on Wednesday, March 30, this year, Serwaah went to the complainant, Ms Gifty Morrison's store to buy a silver shine.
He said as soon as she left the store, the complainant detected that her hand bag, containing over Gh¢500.00 and a Techno-phone valued at Gh¢60.00, which had been loaded with Gh¢216. 00 worth of call credit, which she used for her credit transfer business and left in front of her store was missing.
The complainant suspecting Serwaah had stolen her bag, searched for her without success.
Sergeant Otoo said Madam Morrison later reported the matter to the Half Assini Police and led them to a spot, near the Christian Academy School, at about 1530 hours, and Serwaah was arrested the
During interrogation the convict admitted to stealing the bag with its contents and told the Police that she had given the phone to one Doggy to defray her indebtedness to him, and the money to a certain boy, whose name she could not give, to buy clothing for her daughter.
The said Doggy upon seeing Serwaah and the Police approaching him took to his heels, leaving the bag behind.
Sergeant Otoo said a search of the bag revealed three mobile phones, including the Techno- phone, but without the credit., the GNA reported.