Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 23 Oct.,

Kwasi Mensah 27, from Bodom, near Techiman, who pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a bag of beans valued at 35,000 cedis has been sentenced to a day's imprisonment and fined 75,000 cedis by a tribunal at Techiman. The ruling said 35,000 cedis of the fine, if paid, would be given to the complainant, Mr. Daniel Norbatagie of Asubrofo, near Tanoso. Giving the facts of the case, Inspector Mary Asunta of the Techiman police told the tribunal presided over by Mr. Nicholas Abodakpi that on October 16 this year, Mr. Norbatagie brought three bags of beans to one 'Taller' at the Techiman central market to be sold for him. The prosecution said Mensah, who was aware that Mr. Nobatagie had sent the beans to Taller, cunningly went to Taller's wife in his absence and told her that one bag of the beans belonged to him and demanded 35,000 cedis being its value. After collecting the money, Mensah bolted but was later traced to a hide-out and arrested. At the same tribunal, two common carriers, Alhassan Bukari and Shafaru Gariba, both 20, were remanded in prison custody for three weeks for attempting to steal and assaulting a traveller, Mohammed Seidu from Tamale. They pleaded guilty to the charge and would appear before the tribunal again on November eight. Police Inspector Mary Asunta told the tribunal that on October nine, at about 10 p.m., Mohammed Seidu, the complainant, arrived from Kumasi to look for a vehicle to Tamale when the two persons who were at the Techiman main lorry station shadowed him. Inspector Asunta said they followed Seidu to a point near the Techiman zongo market and seized him. She said Bukari forcefully removed the Seidu's wrist watch while Gariba headed him on the forehead in an attempt to weaken him. The prosecutor said the complainant shouted for help and with the timely arrival of the neighbourhood watch committee, managed to arrest Gariba but Bukari escaped. Inspector Asunta said the volunteers went on a search and spotted Bukari in a drinking bar with his girl-friend and subsequently arrested him.