Crime & Punishment of Monday, 17 December 2007

Source: GNA

Security men in court for stealing yellow corn

Tema, Dec. 17, GNA - Four security men, Baba Issah, Christian Ahiamadzi, Abdul Rahman and Richmond Sarpong who allegedly conspired with a cargo truck driver to steal bags of yellow corn belonging to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) appeared in a circuit court in Tema on Thursday.

The Tema Circuit Court 'A' presided over by Mr Charles Asiedu granted the four bail in the total sum of 400 million cedis with one surety each.

The four pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to steal and stealing and are to re-appear in court on January 16, next year. Prosecution told the court that the four were detailed to guard the Global Haulage Warehouse at Kpone near Tema on December 08 this year. They allegedly conspired with one Seidu, the driver of Mercedes Benz Cargo Truck with registration number AS 9308 X to steal bags of yellow corn belonging to MOFA, which were stored in the warehouse. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Duuti Tuaruka, told the court that at about 1700 hours, the four left the warehouse unattended to and allowed the driver and other accomplices to load the truck with their booty.

DSP Tuaruka said the driver and the others bolted leaving behind the truck loaded with 16 bags of the yellow corn when a policeman chanced on them and raised the alarm. He said the four accused persons re-surfaced minutes after their accomplices had fled.

Investigations were still underway to apprehend the driver and the others at large, he added.