Sekondi July 17, GNA - A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court on Monday fined six people five million cedis for attempting to stowaway. The accused who pleaded guilty were, Eric John Yalley, 25, a forklift operator, Richard Atto Wilson, 21, fisherman, Edwin Atta Wilson, 20, Vulcaniser, Faisal Musah, 30, scrap dealer, Nanabenyin Jonfia, 25, driver and Abubakar Sulemana, 24, tailor.

They would serve 15 months imprisonment in hard labour in default. Three workers at the Takoradi Port jointly charged with the accused persons for abetment of crime, pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison custody to re-appear on August 3.

They are Emmanuel Yalley, 41, a plant supervisor, Ebenezer Wilson, 30, forklift operator and Mustapha Osuman, 43, operation officer. Prosecuting, Police Inspector Andam Okyere said on July 3 this year, Emmanuel Yalley, Ebenezer Wilson and Mustapha Osuman assisted the other accused persons to enter the Takoradi Port and hid inside a bolster container loaded with bundles of wood to be exported to Europe on MV Lucio Delmas.

He said the accused were arrested when the container was being loaded onto the ship and handed over to the police. Police Inspector Okyere said the accused were charged with the offence after police investigations.