Four in court over stolen vehicles

Accra, March 4, GNA - Four people who were found in possession of five vehicles stolen from abroad on Wednesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with possessing stolen vehicles. They are Eric Baah, Edmond Osei Boakye, both businessmen, Frank Alexander Anoh and Joyce Asare have pleaded not guilty and have been admitted to bail terms ranging from GH¢30,000 cedis to GH¢70,000 with two sureties each. They will reappear on March 19.

The four were arrested during an operation between July and August 2008 by Interpol Sub-Regional Bureau in Abidjan and other collaborators such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Attorney General Department in an operation dubbed: "Semta" to rid of Accra and Tema metropolis of stolen imported cars.

The vehicles - one Grand Cherokee, three BMW and Mercedes Benz cars - were stolen from Italy, Germany and The Netherlands. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) P.K. Frimpong, prosecuting, told the court that Baah was on August 1, 2008 found in possession of BMW X5 with registration GR 89 X.

DSP Frimpong said the vehicle was stolen from Germany, adding when Baah was questioned, he pointed out that he bought the car from one Nana Kwabena Poku who he failed to identify. In the case of Boakye, the prosecution said he was found in possession of an unregistered Mercedes Benz and Grand Cherokee that had been stolen from Italy.

According to the prosecution, Boakye said he bought the Mercedes Benz from one Abena who is currently outside the country. The prosecutor said in the case of Anoh he was found in possession of a BMW 325i with registration number GE 1592 V which had been stolen from Germany.

Mrs Asare was found in possession of a BMW with registration number GW 7175 W which had been stolen from The Netherlands. The car was said to have been parked in the garage of the owner in Midden, The Netherlands, but found its way to Ghana.