Two miners granted bail

A Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday granted bail to two illegal miners, Anthony Oppong, 19 and Matthew Awoni, 22, for conspiracy and attempting to kidnap a form one pupil of Peace Royal International School.

The two, who were granted a bail of Ghc10,000, pleaded not guilty to the two charges and would re-appear on May 27.

Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the Court presided by Mr Justice Obeng Asante that the complainant, Amoasi Kakra, is a taxi driver at Efuanta, a suburb of Tarkwa, while the accused persons and Richmond, an accomplice, now at large, reside in Tarkwa.

He said around 1430 hours on May 13, Anthony, Matthew and Richmond went to Peace Royal International School around the University of Mines and Technology area and kidnapped the victim into a waiting cab and took him to an unknown destination.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the taxi driver sensing danger rescued the victim and later made a report to the police.

He said the accused persons were arrested at their hideout at Tebrebe, a suburb of Tarkwa but their accomplice, Richmond, managed to escape arrest.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said when a search was conducted on the accused two kitchen knives and a black face mask was found on Anthony and a pair of scissors on Matthew.

He said the accused persons admitted the offence in their caution statements, saying they kidnapped the victim in order to demand huge sums of money from his father.