MAN, 18, REMANDED FOR STEALING (PAGE 23)

THE Assin Fosu District Magistrate Court has remanded an 18-year-man in prison custody for four weeks for stealing.
The accused, Evans Ahiafo, a native of Sogakope, allegedly stole 60 metres of electric cable valued at GH¢174.60 meant for supplying power to some communities, including Assin Nduaso.
Ahiafo pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and causing damage to cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
According to the court, presided over by Mr Joseph Blay, Ahiafo’s remand was to enable the police to look for his accomplice, whose name was only given as Ralph, who is on the run, to assist the police in their investigations.
Prosecuting, Inspector P.K. Atta stated that on September 24, this year, Ahiafo and Ralph caused damage to a cable connecting some houses at Nduaso in the Assin North District.
He said residents, who had been sensitised by the ECG to irregular power supply interruptions by thieves to enable them to steal cables, managed to arrest Ahiafo but Ralph bolted.
Mr Blay urged the police to invite Ahiafo’s parents to the court at the next hearing of the case.
Briefing the press later, Mr Christian Ayensu Nimako, the Assin Fosu District Manager of the ECG, said there had been rampant stealing of cables connecting power to houses in several communities in the area, thereby plunging those communities into darkness.
He said the modus operandi of the thieves was to switch off the mains before stealing the cables and sometimes meters.