<<Print>>

A TAMALE District Magistrate Court 2 presided over by His Worship Augustine Essah has convicted two goat thieves to a fine of GH�600 each or in default serve a 9-month jail term accordingly. Hamza Abdul Raman, 28, and his accomplice Mohammed Abdulai, 30, believed to be ex-convicts, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing, were remanded but later granted bail. After few adjournments to enable the prosecution prove the guilt of the two, they were on Tuesday convicted following overwhelming evidence that they were guilty as accused. Giving the facts of the case, prosecution told the court that on the dawn of their arrest, young men around the SSNIT flats spotted an urvan bus with registration number GR 3451R, noting that they heard goats bleating in it. The community�s youth wondered where the bus could be coming from at that the time of the night because it was not a market day. They then tried to stop the vehicle but the driver sped off and failed to oblige to their request, therefore raising suspicion. Suspecting that the animals had been stolen, the charged youth immediately commandeered a pickup and gave them a hot to chase. When the suspects realised that they were being pursued, they started dropping the animals one after the other until their path was crossed by personnel of the Bilchinsi Task Force on realizing that the thieves were being chased. According to sources, the Bilchinsi Task Force blocked the main road and facilitated their arrest around the Tamale Central Post Office and retrieved two goats, a number of jute ropes and a torch light. When asked where they got the animals from they could not respond and were handed over to the police and arraigned before court on the charges of stealing. They were however convicted to a fine or default serve various jail terms but the two with the support of their relatives paid the fine imposed and walked to freedom.