THE TEMA Circuit Court has acquitted and discharged two former employees of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) who were standing trial before it for their alleged involvement in the theft of two saloon cars from the Tema Port eight years ago.

The court, however, sentenced in absentia the main architect of the deal, Joshua Amoah, to five-year imprisonment and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The Circuit Court Judge, Kwadwo Owusu, giving the ruling, said the two former GPHA employees, Edward Atitso and J. K. Arthur, Mechanical Workshop Supervisor and Car Park Foreman respectively, from the evidence given by Joshua Amoah were innocent.

He admonished the investigator who, he said, should have brought to the court security personnel on duty on the days the cars were stolen from the port.

The packed court rose to its feet in jubilation after the ruling came out.

Friends and relatives of Edward Atitso and J. K. Arthur who thronged the court for the seven years in adjournments in solidarity broke into tears as they hugged the accused and their lawyers.

The Chronicle a fortnight ago, reported the seven-year-old case at the court.

It would be recalled that in September 1994, Joshua Amoah reportedly stole two saloon cars from the Tema Port.

One of the cars, he said, was stolen on the day Professor Azumah Nelson, the boxing legend, was coming out from the port with his limousine.

All attention was, therefore, focussed on the 'Professors' car, hence Joshua managed to outwit the security agents at the gate.

Edward Atitso and J. K. Arthur were interdicted by the GPHA and a committee of enquiry set up which recommended their call-back. Only J. K. Arthur was recalled but later retired whereas Atitso was rather sacked.