Juaso (Ash), Feb. 08, GNA – The Juaso Circuit Court has remanded a small-scale miner into prison custody for stealing live electricity cables within the concession of Owere Mines in the Asante-Akim Central Municipality.
Emmanuel Kwaku Okai, 33, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage and stealing, but was remanded by the court to reappear on February 17.
Detective Princeton Peasah Darkwah, prosecuting told the Court presided over by Nana Asantewaa Attakorah that the complainant, Abu Salia was a security personnel at Owere Mines, a mining firm at Konongo.
He said on January 31, at about 2300 hours, the complainant spotted Okai and his accomplice, Kenneth Amanning who is currently at large folding some electricity cables into sacks within the concession of the company.
The prosecutor said the complainant succeeded in apprehending Okai but Kenneth managed to escape arrest.
Complainant with the help of his colleagues handed over the accused to the Konongo Police together with the exhibits which was 400 metres of 120mm live bare electricity aluminum cables worth GH¢6,400.00.
As part of Police interrogations, accused led the Police to the crime scene where he confessed that he and his accomplice had stolen some of the cables from the place the day before.
He further disclosed that they had sold them at a price of GHC 180.00 to one Alim, a scrap dealer at Konongo Zongo and led the Police his place, but he fled upon seeing the Police.
Police investigations also revealed that they used bamboo sticks to pull down the live cables before cutting them.
Their actions, according to the prosecution, led to disruption in power supply to greater parts of the Mines and adjoining communities for the two days they committed the crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Peasah told the Court that efforts were being made to arrest the accomplice to face prosecution.
GNA