79 suspects arrested in swoop bailed

Seventy-nine out of the 135 suspected criminals arrested in last Friday's joint police and military swoop at the Tema Main and Fishing harbours have been granted police inquiry bail.

They were released to the Chief Fishermen of Tema following their identification as fishermen, some of whom had returned from sea in the night, while others were preparing to sail during the period they were rounded up. The Tema Regional Commander of Police, Assistant Commissioner Police (ACP), Agnes Sikanartey told newsmen in an interview on Tuesday that they would be released if their claims are found to be true.

Six are held for possessing Indian hemp, while another two are in police grips for possessing dangerous implements. ACP Sikanartey disclosed that the Chief Fisherman for Prampram has also made a representation to her office that some of the 45 people remaining are fishermen from the area, while another employer has identified three of them as his employees.

"We are, therefore, expecting the Chief Fishermen to come help to screen them so that we will hand over the fishermen to them and the remaining will be put before court on various counts of idling.