Sekondi, Feb.27 GNA- A Sekondi High court on Wednesday remanded Shaibu Sore, 42, also known as Osaman, Mohammed Tijani, 55, and Alhaji Chomcor, 63, both shepherds, in Police custody for allegedly stealing, dishonestly receiving and concealing a Police AK 47 assault riffle. They pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting, Mr. William Pobee, a principal state attorney told the court that Shaibu on Feb. 19, 2003, snatched the assault riffle from a Police Sergeant Joe Osei who attempted to arrest him after stealing some electrical gadgets from a house at Kwesiminstim.

He said Sgt. Osei lost the weapon in the process and was hospitalized after sustaining injuries.

Mr. Pobee said Shaibu after using the gun for series of robberies, gave it to Tijani and collected 800,000 cedis with the understanding that he was going to look for a buyer in Accra.

The prosecutor said Tijani, then removed the magazine of the gun and gave it to Chomkor, who is an ex-serviceman and asked him to remove a live bullet that was stuck in the gun.

Mr. Pobee said Chomkor dismantled the riffle, removed the stuck bullet and kept them without reporting to the Police. He said the Police however arrested the suspects in a special operation and recovered the magazine from Tijani and the weapon from Chomkor.