Three persons, who allegedly rented an excavator valued at GH¢320,000 at Kasoa and sold it to a galamsey operator in Obuasi, have been put before an Accra circuit court.

Ebenezer Nana Adjei, a trader, Stephen Salifu, spare parts dealer, and Akaben, now at large, are being held for conspiracy and stealing.

Dankwa, the galamsey operator, who bought the excavator for GH¢60,000, has been charged with dishonestly receiving.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court, presided over by Mr W. Essandoh, has remanded them into police custody to reappear on August 27.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Francis Tassan, told the court that the complainant, Nana Kwadwo Mireku, owns the excavator.

Chief Inspector Tassan said Adjei resides at Ashiaman Official Town whiles Salifu and Dankwa reside at Obuasi and Subin, near Dunkwa on Offin in the Central Region.

On December 13, last year, Adjei contacted one Isaac Shardey, a witness in the matter, to assist him get an excavator to dig a fish pond at Afienya.

Adjei and Akaben on the same day were directed by Shardey to go to the complainant’s premises where they rented the excavator for three days.

Prosecution said Adjei and Akaben, however, paid for two days and promised to pay the balance the following day.

Prosecution said the accused persons left the complainant’s premises with the operator of the excavator as well as his mate to Afienya where a hotel rooms were rented for them to pass the night.

The following day, Akaben took the excavator to Obuasi and rented it to Dankwa for a fee of GH¢1,400 a day and later sold it to him at the cost of GH¢60,000 .

Some weeks later, the complainant, who did not hear from Adjei and Akaben, reported the matter to the police at Dansoman on August 8, last year.

Prosecution said the accused persons, except Akaben, were later arrested by the police.