A scrap dealer caught with stolen underground cable from the Owere Mines, a gold mining company operating at Konongo, has been sentenced to 96 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Juaso Circuit Court.

The convict Adramani Grusi, 42, and one other person now on the run, named in court documents, as Usman Mohammed, sneaked to the mine to cut the cable measuring 35 metres, with a hacksaw.

He was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, causing unlawful damage and stealing and pleaded guilty.

Police Detective Inspector Birikorang Peasah told the Court presided over by Mr Fredrick Tetteh that the incident happened on Monday, April 6.

The two entered a secluded part of the mining area, where the cable linking a water pumping machine to the company’s production unit was cut concealed in a sack and hidden in a bush.

The next day they engaged the services of a taxi driver to carry the booty in his car to Konongo but they were intercepted at the Obenimase Junction by a police patrol team.

Grusi was seized together with the cable before he could flee. Usman however managed to slip through and the police have launched a manhunt to arrest and bring him to justice.