Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Source: GNA

Two remanded for human trafficking

A Kumasi Circuit Court has remanded two people into prison custody for allegedly trying to sell the 19-year old son of a landlord.

Musah Kwaku Nyankini, a butcher, 30, and Abu Tawiah, a 27-year old farmer, are standing trial for human trafficking when they attempted to sell the teenager for GH¢5,000.00.

They pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime and human trafficking and are to re-appear on Wednesday, May 30.

Police Chief Inspector Isaac Mensah Appenteng, told the court presided over by Justice William Boampong, that the accused resides at Dampong in the Asante-Akim South District.

He said Nyankini is a tenant in the family house of the victim and on May 6, the two accused conspired to sell the teenager and in pursuit of this, Nyankini travelled to Kumasi to look for a prospective buyer.

Chief Inspector Appenteng said Nyankini contacted another person at the Bolgatanga Lorry Station at Krofrom, and asked for his assistance with a promise of a GH¢ 2,000.00 reward after the successful completion of the transaction.

He said the man then feigned interest and tipped-off the New Tafo police who arranged with a witness in the case to present himself as an interested buyer.

Chief Inspector Appenteng said they fixed May 12, for the victim to be brought down to Kumasi and on the appointed day, Nyankini arrived with the boy at about 0930 hours.

The prosecution said as they bargained over the GH¢5,000.00 price quoted by the accused, the police moved in to arrest Nyankini.

He admitted the offence during interrogation and mentioned Tawiah as his accomplice.**