Tema, Dec. 12, GNA -- A welder, who is known to be involved in sheep and goat stealing has been arrested for stealing a flock of 15 sheep, and has been granted 50 million cedis bail by the Tema circuit court 'B'. Yaw Nsiah pleaded not guilty and will reappear on January 12 2005. Chief Inspector Teye Matey told the court, presided over by Mr Stephen Teye that on May 29, 2004, the complainant opened her flock of 15 sheep to go out and graze.

He said a witness, who was shepherding his flock of sheep near the Tema motorway, spotted accused with a piece of stick also taking care of 15 sheep in a suspicious manner and confronted him (the accused) who claimed ownership.

The witness, who was not satisfied with the explanations, and has known the accused to be involved in sheep stealing syndicate insisted on seeing his house and the sheep pen.

Chief Inspector Matey said the accused led him to a house in Community 12 where he lives but there was no evidence to prove ownership, and pleaded with the witness to forgive him because he was directed by one Awudu to steal the animals from Michel Camp area. He was handed over to Community eight police.

He said on June 5, police investigations led to the house of the owner of the sheep and she followed up to the station and identified the 15 sheep as hers with a total value of nine million cedis.