A 24-year-old woman, Mawuena Tamakloe, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison by an Accra Circuit Court for stealing a 50-inch Hisense UHD 4K television from the Church of Pentecost (COP) Whistler Barracks Worship Centre at the Teshie Military Barracks in Accra.

Mawuena, who resides in Tema Community 2 and is currently unemployed, pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing.

The court, presided over by Judge Susan Edufful, handed her concurrent 12-month sentences for each charge, citing her youth, first-offender status, and the GH¢8,900.00 value of the stolen item as factors considered in sentencing.

According to Chief Inspector Clemence Takyi, the incident occurred on May 15, 2025, at around 8:30 a.m. when military officers spotted Mawuena carrying a television bearing the church’s inscription out of the barracks.

She was intercepted and handed over to military police after failing to provide a valid explanation.

During interrogation, she confessed to stealing the TV from one of the offices inside the church auditorium. Police investigations confirmed damage to the inner wooden door of the head pastor's office, where the theft occurred. She admitted to the offence in her caution statement.

Chief Inspector Takyi also recounted that Mawuena briefly escaped custody after requesting a pregnancy test, which turned out negative. On the way back to the police station, she fled across the main road and boarded a commercial vehicle, followed by a taxi.

A motorcycle rider aided in tracking her down, leading to her rearrest.

The prosecution withdrew a separate charge of causing unlawful damage to church property after Mawuena provided an explanation, and the court accepted a not-guilty plea on that count.

Before delivering the sentence, the presiding judge urged Mawuena to use her time in prison to reflect and reform.