In a situation that best suit jumping from frying pan into fire had been displayed at the Bekwai Circuit Court on Monday.

The court jailed an illegal miner, also known as galamseyer, 36 months after escaping treatment at a local hospital to break into a businessman’s apartment to steal.

Meanwhile, the illegal miner, Sampson Appau was receiving treatment at the hospital after being lynched by a mob at Yapesa in the Bekwai District of the Ashante region.

The circuit court, presided over by Honour Mark Tairima Diboro, handed down the sentence to him.

The substance of the case as present by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asiedu  Barimah was that the complainant  is a businessman and resident of Yapesa near Asiwa. 

And that Appau Sampson was a galamseyer and also a resident of Yapesa. 

He said on March 16, 2023, at about 9:30am, the convict was involved in case of stealing and was severely beaten up by mob at Yapesah. 

The convict sustained injuries and was sent to Yapesa Health Centre and he was admitted for treatment. 

Interestingly, DSP Asiedu said a day after, March 17, after the convict’s admission at the hospital, he runaway to engage in the same act of criminality. 

Thus, the convict escaped from the hospital  and unlawfully entered the complainant’s room through the ceiling at ostensibly to steal. 

Unfortunately for him, the complainant wife, Afia Mary, was at home at that material moment and raised alarm.

The convict also sensing danger, picked a stick and hit her on the neck and took to his heels to flee the scene.
Despite her agony, Mary screamed for help and people came to the scene and took her to a health centre for medical attention. 

The complainant and some youth of the town began a manhunt for the convict and after few hours later, they arrested and handed him over to police at Asiwa for investigations.

The complainant later went to the house and checked his room and found out that his 36 blades of raw Gold valued GH¢16,200.00 had been stolen. 

During investigations, Sampson admitted and confessed to the crime and stated that he has hidden the stolen Gold in a hole at Yapesa but he could not lead police for retrieval of same.