Police armoured vehicle thief gets one month behind bars

A 26-year-old unemployed man has been sentenced to one month in prison by the Kwadaso Circuit Court in Kumasi after admitting to attempting to steal a police armoured vehicle at Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The convict, Ebenezer Frimpong, from Antwi Agyeikrom in the Atwima Mponua District, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty during proceedings on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. His change of plea came after a psychiatric evaluation conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital declared him mentally fit to stand trial. The report, which had been pending for several months, was presented in court before sentencing.

Presiding judge His Honour Jephtha Appau convicted and sentenced Frimpong based on his guilty plea.

According to the prosecution, on April 14, 2026, General Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi was transporting an armoured police vehicle, registration number GP 1131, to a workshop for servicing. During the journey, the officer stopped near the Nkawie Market to buy medication after suffering a stomach upset.

While he was away, Frimpong allegedly entered the vehicle and drove off towards the Nkawie–Abuakwa–Kumasi road. An alarm was raised, and officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) pursued and arrested him at Mim, near Abuakwa.

Frimpong had initially pleaded not guilty when he first appeared before the court on May 5, 2026. However, after the psychiatric report was read in court, he opted to change his plea to guilty.

Before passing sentence, the judge confirmed that Frimpong understood the implications of his admission. Justice Appau explained that the relatively short custodial sentence took into account the convict’s youth, his status as a first-time offender, and the fact that he admitted the offence without prolonging the trial.

Earlier, Police Prosecutor ASP Albert Asagre had urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence in accordance with the law following the accused’s change of plea.