Cape Coast, Feb 04, GNA - Mr Mustapha Logoh, a circuit court judge at Cape Coast, on Friday expressed concern over the rampant thefts of palm fruits from the Twifo Oil Palm Plantation (TOPP) and cautioned that if care was not taken such negative acts could lead to the collapse of the plantation.

Mr Logoh said this when he remanded a 32-year-old unemployed man for stealing nine bags of palm fruits valued at 900,000 cedis from TOPP.

''Not a day passes without someone being brought before me for such crimes.''

Kodwo Tawiah pleaded not guilty to stealing and would be re-arraigned on Tuesday, February 15.

Chief inspector Henry Tanor told the court that last Wednesday some security guards at the plantation discovered the bags of palm fruits in a hideout.

They arrested Tawiah when he was spotted with his seven-year old son carrying one of the bags.

At the same court three men, Ekow Afedzi, a mason, Emmanuel Simpson, a newspaper vendor and Kweku Abeiku, a driver, were granted a total of 12 million cedis bail for allegedly assaulting one Mr Yaw Denkyi, a trader.

They are to re-appear on January 21.

Prosecuting, Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that the complainant visited a female friend in one of the secondary schools and took her home to give her a parcel.

As soon as they got home the accused persons entered the complaint's room and assaulted him with stones and sticks.