The gold ornaments stolen from the Kumawu palace have been traced in the Republic of Togo where they were alleged to have been sold to an Alhaji. The assistance of Interpol is therefore being sought to track down the Alhaji who has been identified as Alhaji Ibrahim in Togo.

Chief Inspector Charles Kwadwo Abotsi, prosecuting told the Kumawu court trying five persons for the theft of the gold ornaments at a sitting on Monday appealed to the court to acquit and discharge the accused in view of the new development.

The court presided over by Mr. Owusu Afriyie, accordingly acquitted and discharged them. They were Evans Asumadu Sakyi, Kwabena Danso alias Ebo, Luis Daffour London, Yaw Frimpong and Richmond Owusu Tawiah. Chief Inspector Charles Kwadwo Abotsi told the court that fresh evidence obtained indicated that one Kwame Ansah broke into the palace and made away with the items and sold them to one Mohammed Kabilo Adam for ?20million. He was said to have used ?10miliion of the proceeds to buy a DVD player, a sound system, refrigerator and a television set.

He said when the police asked him for the receipt Ansah could not produce it. All the items were in the custody of the police. He said following a tip off, the police arrested Kabilo and he admitted selling the items to Alhaji Ibrahim in Lome, Togo for ?25million. Chief Inspector Abotsi said when Ansa was arrested he also mentioned one Yaw Frimpong from Bodomase as the source of the gold ornaments. On the arrest of Frimpong, Ansah was invited to identify him but he claimed that he did not refer to the said Frimpong as the one who gave him the items but rather said that he met him in prison eight years ago.