By N. Norman Cooper

MARY Biama Tawiah, 58, a trader, was on Thursday arraigned before an Accra Circuit Tribunal accused of stealing a Toyota Landcruiser valued at ?85million belonging to her husband. She pleaded not guilty and was granted a ?10 million bail with one surety to be justified. She will appear again on March 16. Obeng Amoako, a businessman, is jointly charged with the accused for dishonestly receiving he stolen vehicle, GR 1424N. He is said to be on the run. Police Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Elizabeth Alormatu, prosecuting told the tribunal that on July 13, last year, the complainant, Mr. Joseph Kingsley Tawiah, parked the vehicle at his Abeka residence shortly after buying it.

Three months later the vehicle was stolen from his course and inquiries revealed that it was the accused, who stole it. She admitted to the theft when confronted and said she was hiding it at Kasoa, near Accra and promised returning it but failed to do so. On January 22, this year, the complainant spotted the vehicle at a place at Abeka and confronted the garage owner. It was then that he was told that the accused sold the vehicle to Obeng for ?75 million but claimed that the documents covering it were missing. A report was made to the police and the accused was arrested while efforts were being made to arrest Obeng.