<<Print>>

Three persons on Tuesday appeared before the Asamankese Circuit Court for stealing 73 bunches of palm fruit valued at GHc200. Jephthah Amoako Boateng, Solomon Monney and Jacob Dogbe face two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing. They all pleaded not guilty to both counts. Whereas Boateng and Dogbe were remanded in prison custody, Monney was granted GHc400 bail with one surety to re-appear on December 9. Police Inspector Francis Asare-Cobbina, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant, Daniel Asante, is a trader resident in Accra. He said Boateng was a trader while both Monney and Dogbe were farmers residing at Abompeh. The prosecutor said there was a protracted land dispute between the complainant and Boateng at Abompeh, which compelled the complainant to sue Boateng before the Asamankese circuit court. He said the court on May 19, last year, the court ruled in favour of the complainant who had since been custodian of the land on which citrus and oil palm trees had been cultivated. The complainant entrusted the farm into the care of his brother, a witness in the case. The prosecutor said on September 22, the complainant returned from Accra and instructed his brother to harvest the mature palm fruits for sale. He said at about 0900 hours on September 23, the caretaker employed the services of one Charles Antwi who also engaged one Kwabena Nyarko Sammy and her daughter Joyce Antwi at the farm where they harvested the palm fruit. Few minutes later, the three accused persons went to the farm with a truck and loaded all the palm fruits into the vehicle and drove away. A report was made to the police leading to their arrest.