THREE STEAL A PIG (PAGE 27, MIRROR, JAN 23, 2010)

From Samuel Duodu, Kintampo

Two farmers and a student who conspired to steal a pig valued at GH¢100 but did not succeed have each been granted a bail in the sum of GH¢500 with a surety each to be justified.
The farmers — Kwaku Addo, 22, and Stephen Donkor, 18 — and Madina Kwadwo, were alleged to have shot the pig while grazing in an attempt to steal the animal but they were arrested by the pig’s owner and his two friends who had mounted a surveillance on them.
The three, who have been charged with stealing, pleaded not guilty when they appeared before the Kintampo Magistrate’s Court in the Brong Ahafo Region. They would re-appear before the court, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, on January 28, 2010.
The facts of the case as presented in court by Sergeant Wisdom Ahiakpor were that the complainant, Stephen Ponabi, a farmer, and the accused persons lived at Babato in the Kintampo Municipality.
He said the complainant had a pen at Nyakuma near Babato where he bred pigs and had nine in stock but as a result of the continuous stealing of the animals he had been left with only two.
Sgt Ahiakpor said about three weeks before the 2009 Christmas, one Rasta, a witness in the case, hinted the complainant that Addo brought a pig with gunshot wounds on it to him to buy and he told him he was not interested and directed him to where to sell it.
The prosecutor told the court that on December 21, 2009, the complainant went and opened the two pigs and left them to graze but later had information that the accused persons had gone to the area where the pigs were grazing with a gun.
He said the complainant quickly went to the area and spotted the accused driving one of the pigs into the bush and after driving it over a distance the complainant heard a gunshot.
Sgt. Ahiakpor said the complainant confronted the trio but they told him it was a bird they had shot.
He said the complainant could not find the animal and so informed his two friends, Yamchumba and Yussif, also witnesses in the case, to accompany him to the bush.
Sgt. Ahaikpor said they met Madina and Donkor with a bicycle and an empty sack on it but on seeing them they (accused) fled.
The search party later saw the carcass with gunshot wounds on it and therefore lodged a complaint with the police and the accused persons were arrested.
They, however, denied the offence.