Court issues warrant for arrest of alleged cow thieves

Asamankese (E/R), April 7, GNA - The Asamankese Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of ten persons who shot a stray cow and shared the meat for meals.

The ten suspects, all farmers resident at Aworasa, near Asamankese, were charged with conspiracy to steal and stealing a cow valued at 4.5 million cedis.

The first three accused persons, Albert Kokovena, Kwasi Azaneti and Felix Kwadwo Fuleme, who were arrested by the Police, appeared in court at an earlier date and were granted bail in the sum of five million cedis with one surety each.

The three and other seven suspects were supposed to appear in court on Wednesday but all of them failed to do so, resulting in the court issuing the warrant for their arrest.

The other seven suspects are Anane, Daniel Dakudzi, Opare, Peters, Kwadwo Kuma, Kwamivi and Noah Adagla.

According to Police chief Inspector J. F. Idan, the complainant was a caretaker of a herd of cattle at Asanteman, a suburb of Akyem Oda. He said on the night of December 23, last year, the complainant noticed the loss of six cows from his kraal. He said following a search in the community and nearby villages, five of the animals were found.

The court heard that on January 4, this year, the Kokovena, the first accused, found the six cow in the bush and informed one Yaw Broni, the Unit Committee Chairman of the village about it.

Chief Inspector Idan said Kokovena was advised by the Unit Committee Chairman to inform the Chief or the Police but he ignored the advice. Rather he shot and killed the cow with the connivance of the other accused persons and shared the beef among themselves for meals. The Chief of Aworasa, however, got wind of the act and informed the complainant who made a report to the Police.

However, the accused persons except Kokovena, Azameti and Fuleme, fled the community in a bit to avoid arrest by the police except.