Bawku (U/E), Nov. 10, GNA - A Bawku Circuit Court on Thursday remanded in prison custody two farmers, who took advantage of a heavy downpour on Wednesday night, to steal four cattle valued at four million cedis.

The accused - Kwame Atort and Karim Fulani, who could not outwit the vigilance of the Garu Community Watchdog Committee, have been charged with causing harm and stealing. They pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Eklo told the court presided over by Mr Jacob Boon that on their usual night patrol on Wednesday, October 30 members of the Watchdog Committee met the two suspects with the animals at about 0300 hours.

He said the members confronted them over the ownership of the animals and where they were going at that time of the night, to which they replied that it was the rain that delayed their journey.

ASP Eklo said the Committee members were not convinced and suggested that the animals should be kept in their custody till the following day for proper identification. More

ASP Eklo said Atort did not take kindly to this suggestion and insisted that they would take the animals along with them to their home. When he was prevented from doing so, a scuffle ensued during which the accused attacked the Committee Members with cutlasses and injured them.

ASP Eklo said sensing danger, some of the Committee Members rushed to the Garu Police Station, but before the Police could get to the scene, the two accused persons had bolted, leaving the animals. He said the owner of the cattle came to the Garu Police station the next day to report about his missing animals and was able to identify them when the Police led him to where the stolen cattle had been tethered.

An intensive manhunt conducted by the Police later led to the arrest of the two culprits.