On July 19, 2023, the Accra High Court delivered a verdict in the case of Samuel Botchway, a shop attendant who was charged with stealing cosmetic products valued at GH¢174,640 from his employer. Presided over by Madam Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, the court found Botchway guilty after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
The stolen items included boxes of cosmetics worth GH¢158,640 and an additional four boxes of the same product valued at GH¢16,000. The complainant in the case was identified as Vida Arhin-Duah, a trader residing in Ablekuma Joma, Accra, while the convict, Samuel Botchway, lived in Bortianor, also in Accra.
Botchway had been working as a shop assistant and warehouse keeper for the complainant, who had two warehouses – one in Ablekuma Joma and the other in the Makola Mall building.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Eric Pobee, presented evidence that revealed the complainant had noticed shortages of cosmetic products both in her shop and warehouse. During investigations, it was discovered that Botchway was seen counting money at a shop in Okaishie Market belonging to a witness named Latifa Rashid.
Upon confrontation, the complainant inquired about Botchway’s presence at the Okaishie shop. Latifa, the witness, explained that Botchway was her regular supplier of cosmetic products. She revealed that he had recently supplied her with four boxes of gel polish, amounting to GH¢12,800 in payment.
Further investigations revealed that between December 2022 and April 2023, Botchway had supplied Latifa with various cosmetic products, all of which she had paid for.
Upon his arrest, Botchway confessed to the theft in his cautioned statement during the investigation.
Considering the gravity of the offense and the value of the stolen items, the presiding judge sentenced Samuel Botchway to three years in prison with hard labor. The court imposed a six-month prison term for stealing cosmetics worth GH¢158,640 and another six-month sentence for stealing cosmetics worth GH¢16,000. Both sentences were to run concurrently. Thus, Botchway would serve a total of three years in prison for his criminal actions.
