Techiman (B/A) July 31 GNA - Kwabena Yakubu, 22 and Kwasi Dagarti, alias Lobi, 26, all unemployed, were on Friday remanded by a circuit court at Techiman for stealing 1.3 million cedis belonging to a student at Techiman Central Market. The two pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and stealing the money belonging to Master Kwasi Baffour, a student of the Tamale Animal Health Production College and will re-appear on August 20.

Remanding the two suspects, Justice Erasmus Gyinae noted that rampant attacks on traders on the highways had contributed to food crops going bad in the surrounding communities as the traders were reluctant to travel to the market for fear of falling victim. He warned that the court would not deal leniently with any person or persons brought before him for robbery and petty stealing.

Police Chief Inspector Sampson Y. Jebuni, told the court that on June 27 this year, Yakubu approached the student who had just arrived from Kintampo to look for his mother to direct him to where he could exchange CFA francs for cedis. The suspect told the student that he had just arrived from Sampa and had learnt that his (Yakubu) mother had been admitted at the Holy Family Hospital.

Chief Inspector Jebuni said Master Baffour left the suspect and joined a taxi but Dagarti instructed Yakubu to accompany him to show him the hospital. In the process, Yakubu snatched a bag containing the money from Master Baffour and fled. Master Baffour raised the alarm and on-lookers who gave them a hot chase arrested the two at their hideout near the Tano River but retrieved only 75,000