Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 6 June 2013

Source: GNA

Police arrest 90 for causing damage and stealing at Wassa

Ninety people in Wassa Juabo including the Mbrantehene, John Fosu, have been arrested for allegedly causing damage to property and stealing.

The Police at the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipality arrested the suspects in a special operation at Wassa Juabo on Wednesday, for stealing and damaging items from a machine hiring company in the Wassa Amenfi Central District of the Western Region.

The Western Regional Public Relations Officer of the Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency at Sekondi on Thursday.

She said the police would screen the suspects and those found culpable would be put before the court for prosecution.

Explaining the incident, ASP Adiku said the police received a report from Paul Asare and Kwesi Boarteng, owners of Boly Deck Machine Hiring Company that, some youth of Wassa Juabo besieged the company site, caused damage to property and stole items on May 6 last month.

According to police, the youth stole three drums of diesel, seven pieces of mastic bowls, sixty jericans,400 pieces of Mops,10 blankets, five pumping machines, vehicle spare parts,10 plastic chairs, a grinding machine and one welding machine worth over GHc130,000.

The police embarked on a special dawn operation in the town on Wednesday June 5, and arrested the 90 suspects.

ASP Adiku said the police retrieved five pumping machines and 15 mobile phones from the suspects.

The police said when the suspects arrested in the operation were interrogated; they alleged that the company refused to honour its pledge of constructing a road from Ankwaso to the town, as well as failing to provide boreholes for them, hence the attack.

Police investigations continue.