Three grave looters helping Half Assini Police

Half Assini (W/R), April 16, GNA 97 Three suspected grave looters are in the custody of the Half Assini Police in the Jomoro District, for alleged grave looting activities. They are Kweku Opoku, 57 from Ashanti Bekwai, Yaw Owusu Duku, 38 from Kumasi Asoamoa and Amoaka 29, a boat operator at Jewi Wharf near Half Assini.

The Jomoro District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Ferguson Dzineku made this known to the Ghana News Agency at Half Assini on Friday.

He said following rampant grave looting activities in the district, the communities in consultation with Police, have formed vigilante groups to watch their cemeteries. The Police Commander said on Thursday, April 14 2011, the group at Allowuley near Tikobo No. one arrested Opoku and Duku at the cemetery between 2100 hours and 2200 hours. He said when they were searched, a shovel, and working gears for looting were found in their custody.

The police commander said the suspects were handed over the police at the District Police Headquarters at Half Assini. DSP Dzineku said during interrogation the suspects admitted to be grave looters and mentioned Amoaka, a citizen of the area as the one who invited them from the Ashanti Region to the area for the activity. He said Duku was later identified to have jumped bail on April 14, 2010 when he appeared the Half Assini District magistrate court on similar offence at Enzimetianu near Half Assini.

DSP Dzineku said the three suspects would be arraigned before the court on Monday April 18, 2011.