Tema, April 28, GNA - A watchman in a fishing vessel who took advantage of the absence of his colleague who had gone to buy food at the market at the Tema Fishing Harbour, and stole some pieces of Odum boards and rubber packings in the vessel has been remanded in custody.

Alhassan Gariba pleaded not guilty and will reappear on May 7, 2004. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edith Nutakor told the Tema Circuit Court "B" presided over by Mr Stephen Teye that in January 2004, Mr Tonny Ham owner of "Kija 107" a fishing vessel docked at the fishing harbour detected thefts of parts from the vessel's engine and therefore, engaged a second watchman, Awudu Salifu.

She said on April 20, at about 5:30am, Salifu who was on duty left to buy bread at the fish market, and when returning 30 minutes later, he met two port security men escorting the accused and three others, pulling along two trucks, one loaded with nine pieces of Odum boards, and the other with three rubber packings.

The accused was pulling the truck loaded with the rubber packings, while the port security officers were questioning them. Awudu then inspected the items and identified them as being stolen from his master's vessel.

Chief Inspector Nutakor said the accused and his accomplices were taken to the security office at the harbour, but three of them managed to escape, leaving the accused and was sent to the fishing harbour police together with the stolen items.