Tarkwa, Western Region – September 10, 2025 — An 18-year-old student, Bright Atanga, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Tarkwa District Court Two after pleading guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing.
The case was presided over by His Worship Isaac Osei Asare, Esq., with Police Sergeant Adwoa Yeboah leading the prosecution.
Incident at UMaT
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on April 14, 2025, when Atanga snatched a mobile phone from a student at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa.
As the victim pursued him, Atanga reportedly scaled the wall of a nearby residence at Nkamponase, where he was caught by a mob. He was subjected to severe beatings until police officers arrived at the scene, rescued him, and took him to the hospital for treatment before escorting him to the station.
Court Proceedings
Police investigations revealed that Atanga confessed to the crime, admitting he stole the phone from a UMaT student before attempting to hide inside the compound of Samuel Dontoh, a businessman residing at Nkamponase.
The stolen phone was retrieved after his arrest.
In court, Atanga pleaded guilty to both charges, leading to his conviction and sentencing.
Sentencing and Community Reaction
The 18-month jail term has sparked discussions in the community about youth involvement in crime and the risks of mob justice. Police officials cautioned against instant justice, urging residents to always hand over suspects to the authorities for due process.
Source – My News Ghana
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