Kumasi, April 15, GNA - Four people have appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court for allegedly stealing foodstuffs worth over GH¢400 belonging to a trader. Kwame Sekyere 25, a blacksmith, Kofi Baah alias Kofi Ofori 22 and David Nsor 26 both traders and Victor Yawkye alias Anwona 26, a barkeeper pleaded guilty to conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing.

They were remanded in prison custody to re-appear on April 22 for sentence. However, Sekyere was additionally charged with illegal possession of arms. Two accomplices Joe and Asante jointly charged with the accused persons are on the run.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Regina Kesewaa told the court presided over by Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh that during the afternoon of April 5 this year, the Ashanti Regional Police Criminal Investigation Division was informed that Sekyere had in his possession quantity of assorted foodstuffs in his room located at Race Course in Kumasi suspected to have been stolen.

She said during a search the police found the foodstuffs, a locally manufactured pistol and two live cartridges concealed in a black polythene bag. ASP Kesewaa noted that in addition, the police found a tape recorder belonging to Mr Michael Kwasi Frimpong, the complainant. She said during interrogation, Sekyere told the police that on April 4, he conspired with Joe, Asante and Baah to steal the foodstuffs at Asuoyeboah a suburb of Kumasi.

The prosecution said the following day Yawkye who is a member of the Race Course Watch Dog Committee who heard about the theft went to the accused persons to demand his share in addition to an amount of GH¢12 or report them to the police.

She said to raise the money for Yawkye, Nsor was invited to purchase some of the foodstuffs and he bought GH¢65 worth of the foodstuffs while the rest were kept in Sekyere's room.