Cape Coast, Oct 26, GNA - To allow some animals he had stolen to cross the Moree Police Barrier without apprehension, Ibrahim Issah, a 42-year-old butcher, allegedly bribed a police officer with GH¢30.00 but got exposed.

The Police Officer, Lance Corporal Appiah Danquah, feigned interest and collected the money but rather arrested the culprits. Issah, with a taxi cab driver, Ibrahim Mohammed, 26, has appeared consequently, before a Circuit Court in Cape Coast facing charges of abetment of crime and stealing.

They both pleaded not guilty and have been remanded in prison custody to reappear on Wednesday, November three.

Prosecuting, Inspector Daniel Agbezulor said that on Sunday, October 17, at about 0400 hours, Lance Corporal Danquah who was on duty at the Moree Police Barrier was approached by Issah, who offered him GH¢30.00 to allow an on-coming taxi cab loaded with sheep and goats from Mankessim to cross the barrier to Cape Coast.

He said the police officer accepted the money and urged Issah on so a few minutes later, a Hyundai Excel Taxi Cab with registration number GR9632S, driven by Mohammed pulled up at the barrier. He said the driver of the taxi was, however, asked to stop and upon searching the car, the police found seven live and two dead sheep as well as three live goats in its trunk.

Inspector Agbezulor said Issah and Mohammed were both arrested and handed over to the police at the Central Regional Headquarters with the GH¢30.00 as evidence.

During interrogations, they confessed that the animals were stolen. He said an unidentified person who was at the back seat of the taxi cab managed to escape.

The court presided over by Mr Samuel Asare-Nyarko ordered that the animals be sold at market prices and the monies kept until the owners of the animals showed up.