Kumasi, Dec. 13, GNA - A Kumasi circuit court last Thursday remanded two people in prison custody for allegedly stealing items totalling 22,650,000 cedis. Thomas Donkor, 18, unemployed and Kwame Antwi, 26, a trader, pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing and will re-appear on December 23. Their two accomplices, Yaw Barima and the other, whose name was only given as Kwaku, are on the run.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Awuvey told the court presided over by Mr R. M. Kogyapwah that, on November 30, this year, the four persons conspired to steal and unlawfully entered a mobile phone shop and stole a number of items. The items, he said, included 195 mobile phone batteries, chargers, ear phones, five buzz chips, 20 phone covers, three loudspeakers, a sound system, three Nokia mobile phones, a calculator and phone ropes, totalling 22,650,000 cedis. He said after stealing the items, the thieves hired a taxi and conveyed the stolen items to Dr Mensah Total Filling Station in Kumasi around 0400 hours.

DSP Awuvey said a team of security personnel on patrol duty spotted the accused persons discharging the stolen items and became suspicious and therefore went to arrest them. He said, however that, Barima and Kwaku, who saw the patrol team approaching managed to escape, while Donkor and Antwi were arrested and sent to the Buffalo Unit for investigations.

The prosecution said at about 05:30 hours, someone called the owner of the shop, Mr Stephen Ameyaw to tell him of the theft and he quickly made a report to the Asokwa police, who directed him to the Central Police Station where he identified some of the stolen items. The police, he said, succeeded in recovering 19 ear phones, six phone ropes, 92 batteries, 60 chargers, 20 phone covers, Nokia phones and buzz chips totalling 9,157,000 cedis from the accused persons. DSP Awuvey said after investigations, the two were charged with the offences.