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Bismark Adu jailed 10 years for setting rented room ablaze
•2 min read•1 source
The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced 27-year-old Bismark Adu to 10 years in prison with hard labor for setting a rented room on fire. The conviction follows an incident that resulted in property damage valued at GH•300,000 and the loss of GH•15,000 in physical cash. The court found Adu guilty of causing unlawful damage, a charge brought against him after he intentionally ignited the room belonging to another tenant following a dispute.
The court heard that the incident took place on August 30, 2026, following a confrontation between Adu and the room's occupant, Owusu Evans. According to the prosecution, Adu had attempted to enter Evans’ room while the latter was away. When Evans returned and discovered the attempted breach, he confronted Adu before leaving the house to find a carpenter to repair his damaged door. It was during this brief absence that Adu carried out the act of arson.
During the trial, it was revealed that Adu used petrol to start the fire, which quickly engulfed the room and destroyed all its contents. Witnesses and residents raised the alarm after seeing smoke and flames, leading to Adu’s arrest by local authorities shortly thereafter. The total financial loss, estimated at GH•315,000 when including the destroyed belongings and the lost cash, was a significant factor in the severity of the sentence handed down by the court.
In delivering the judgment on September 2, 2026, the presiding judge emphasized that the custodial sentence reflects the serious nature of the crime and the potential risk the blaze posed to other residents in the building. The 10-year term with hard labor is intended to serve as a deterrent against using violence or property destruction to resolve personal grievances. Adu has been transported to begin serving his sentence immediately.
