BUSINESSMAN GRANTED BAIL FOR ILLEGAL POWER CONNECTION (Page 21)

Story: Samuel Duodu, Fiapre

THE Fiapre Circuit Court near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region has granted a Sunyani-based businessman bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 for illegal connection of electricity, stealing power and tampering with a pre-paid meter belonging to the Volta River Authority (VRA).
The accused, Mark Oppong Bossman, who pleaded guilty to the charges, explained that the power was illegally tapped by his younger brother during his absence.
The Presiding Judge, Mr John Kwadwo Owusu Gyamfi, after listening to the explanation of the accused, ordered him to produce his younger brother or he would be dealt with drastically.
He, therefore, adjourned the case to January 28, 2008 when the accused is to report with his brother.
The court, however, remanded in prison custody, Kwasi Appiah, a barber who also resides in Sunyani, on the same counts.
Appiah, who pleaded not guilty to the charges of stealing power, illegal connection and tampering with a meter, is to reappear before the court on January 21, 2008.
The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kwaku Amoah, who has also been charged for the same offences but failed to appear before court.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector E.K. Boison said the complainant in the cases, was the chief security man of the Sunyani branch of VRA while the accused persons were all resident in Sunyani.
He said between October and December, 2007, the VRA formed a task force to clamp down on people who had tampered with their pre-paid meters and were enjoying electricity free of charge as a resulting of illegal connection, which had deprived others from getting good supply.
Chief Inspector Boison told the court that Bossman failed to buy the card to feed his pre-paid meter so he had no power in his house, but decided to use the flexible wire under the meter to tap power free of charge.
He said the VRA task force arrested him and charged him with the offences, while Appiah was also arrested for tampering with the VRA’s pre-paid meter as well as illegal connection.
The prosecutor stated that Appiah, who illegally connected power from the main meter to his store which was not approved by the VRA, was subsequently arrested and charged with the offence.