Rice thieves caged

Eleven persons have appeared before an Accra circuit court for allegedly stealing 7,194 bags of rice valued at GH¢661,848.

The accused persons are Francis Kodjo Damigu, aka Choka, unemployed; Emmnauel Kwame Bansa; Joseph Mumiru and Peter Mensah – all security officers.

The others are Daniel Akwetey Tetteh, aka Igbe; Stephen Ninyegu Tawiah, carrier; Abongo Daniel Adabase, trader; Atando Mathew Baba, trader; Abdul Raman Sandow, driver; Iiasu Adam, scrap dealer; Emmanuel Faith Adams, trader and Yaw Badu, key cutter.

The prosecution, led by ACP Moses Atibilla, averred that the accused persons on March 14, 2015 at Tema in Accra, conspired and robbed one Seidu Agongo of the bags of rice.

Appearing before Justice Francis Obiri, all eleven accused persons denied the offence and were remanded in police custody until today, April 27, 2015.

Earlier, lawyers for the various accused persons, including Seidu Nasigri, counsel for Adam, told the court that the facts as presented by the prosecution did not support the charges against the accused persons.

He argued that the right charge against the accused persons should have been stealing and not robbery.

The facts of the case, as presented by the police officer, are that Agongo is the Chief Executive Officer of Sarago Company Limited – a company that imports assorted rice into the country.

He said during the month of January this year, Agongo imported 45,762 bags of Aroma Vietnam Jasmine rice from MOI International Limited of Singapore and deposited same at the Customs Bonded Warehouse in Tema.

ACP Atibilla said on March 6, 2015, the accused persons conspired, armed

themselves with pistols and broke into the warehouse and robbed the said bags of rice.

The prosecutor stated that the rice was sold to one Mansah Agbale and Bro. Kwame at New Achimota, also in Accra, adding that the suspects after receiving the rice re-bagged all and sold it to prospective buyers.

ACP Atibilla said the police had retrieved the original empty bags from the house at New Achimota.