The Asokwa Circuit Court has sentenced the house help who allegedly murdered his boss at Sokoban in Kumasi has been sentenced to 20 years in jail.
John Alister was initially found guilty of two counts of stealing earlier this week, but his sentencing was deferred to today (6 October). He will serve the 20-year jail sentence concurrently.
Prosecuting ASP Stephen Ofori said the suspect was employed as a hotel receptionist at Bantama in Kumasi in 2022, following an advert.
After a month, the suspect abandoned work but returned in July and was pardoned and allowed to start work due to his previous working relationship with his employer.
On the 6th of August 2023, his employer (complainant) gave her Infinix Note 8 mobile phone to the accused person and asked him to do some settings for her. He, however, took advantage of that and bolted with the phone.
He went ahead to withdraw an amount of 167,660.09 from the complainant’s ABSA Bank account, using a mobile app, the court heard.
An official complaint was reported to the police for investigation and the accused person was arrested from his hideout in Accra.
The court presided over by Vida Achiaa Yeboah took judicial notice of the new wave of crime perpetrated by a section of the youth describing Alister’s case as premeditated.
The judge also considered the fact that the suspect was convicted on his own plea, hence did not waste the court’s time.
She consequently sentenced him to 20 years for the 1st count of stealing mobile phone worth GHC 4,000 and 20 years for the second count of stealing GHC 167,666 which he withdrew from the complainant’s bank account using the mobile app.
He will however serve the two sentences concurrently.
Alister right after the court’s verdict broke down in tears as he begged the court for leniency. The court however declined.
Alister is expected back at the Asokore Mampong District Court for the third time on October 17, 2023, to face murder charges with an accomplice, James Anokye, a 27-year-old driver.
