Suspected pylon thief granted GHc10,000

Tarkwa, July 23, GNA - A 45 year-old farmer, Samuel Oppong, has been granted a GHc10,000 Ghana-cedi bail for stealing metals used for the erection of pylons by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear before the court on August 7.

Police Prosecutor Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo that information was received by Police that thieves had been stealing materials from the old sub-station of the (ECG) sited within the Goldfields Ghana Limited concession, near Brahabebome.

The prosecutor said those materials included wire mesh and metals used for the erection of pylons, which had been dismantled and stolen by unknown persons at night.

Inspector Amponsah said on June 16, at about 2050 hours, a team of Police Officers were returning from observation duty when they saw some young people carting some metals suspected to be the property of the ECG into a truck, with registration number AS 4850 Y near OTR company yard.

He said upon seeing the team those engaged in the carting bolted but the driver’s mate was arrested.

The prosecutor said the accused later went to claim ownership of the goods claiming it was scrap, which he bought from some people but could not identify the sellers.

The prosecutor, however, said when the manager of the Tarkwa ECG Office was contacted he claimed the exhibits belonged to his company.

The value of the material is yet to be assessed.