Asamankese, Dec. 30, GNA - Two drivers have been remanded in prison custody by the Asamankese Circuit Court charged with stealing a taxi cab at knife point.

The pleas of Yaw Amponsah, alias Nana Yaw, 32 and Francis Owusu, 20, were not taken and they are to reappear before the court on January 6.

The two suspects faced two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and stealing Opel Astra taxi cab with registration number GR 4863 W, valued at 40 million cedis.

Giving the facts of the case, Police Chief Inspector Joseph Idan said, the complainant, Mr Edward Budu, was driving the taxicab at Asamankese town when the two men lured him to collect some goods at Bunso junction to Suhum.

At the Bunso junction, the two men allegedly attacked the driver with a knife, pulled him out of the vehicle, tied him with a rope and dumped him in a bush some distance away.

He said Amponsah and Owusu then took possession of the vehicle and drove to Kumasi, solicited the help of one Kwasi Owusu, now believed to be domiciled outside the country, to sell the car to one Osei Hyiamang at Takyimantia in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Amponsah then went into hiding Dadieso in the Western Region. On December 13, this year, Police at Asamankese, acting upon information, visited Dadieso to look for Amponsah who, on seeing the Police advancing towards him, took to his heels. The policeman, however, gave him a hot chase and grabbed him. During interrogation, Amponsah mentioned Owusu as his accomplice and he was also arrested.

Owusu admitted travelling with Amnponsah with the stolen car from Asamankese to Kumasi and assisted in disposing of the vehicle.