Kumasi, June 29, GNA--Yusif Yahaya, a 22-year-old barber at Nima-Kumasi, on Monday appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Tribunal for allegedly possessing two locally made double-barrelled pistols without authority.

Yahaya pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to re-appear on Thursday, July eight by the tribunal chaired by Mr Joseph A. Abanga.

Police Chief Inspector Fabian Afesi told the tribunal that police had intensified patrols due to recent upsurge in armed robbery in the Kumasi metropolis.

He said on Saturday, June 24, police were informed that some people were in possession of locally made pistols. Plain clothes policemen stormed Nima, near Sawaba, in Kumasi and met the accused and two others and requested for assistance to buy some arms.

Chief Inspector Afesi said the accused and the two others went away and later brought two pistols for sale at 20,000 cedis each.

The police in an attempt to purchase the pistols arrested the accused but the two others managed to run away.

At the same tribunal, Iddrissu Bukari, 40, a watchman, was convicted on his own plea of possessing firearm without authority.

The tribunal, however, deferred sentencing to July eight.