An Accra circuit court has granted a GH¢200,000.00 bail with two sureties each to three persons for allegedly possessing mining explosives without authority.
The court presided by Mrs Ruby Naa Adjeley Quaison ordered that one of the sureties each should be justified.
Gabriel Armah, 35, system analyst, Samuel Tena Shika, 36, civil engineer, and Obed Obuodey Dauty, 25, factory attendant, who all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and possession of mining explosives without authority, will make their next appearance on Friday, September 6.
Police Inspector Samuel Ahiabor told the court that the complainants are police personnel of Accra Regional Criminal Investigations Department.
Armah and both reside at New Fadama whilst Shika lives at Abeka, all suburbs of Accra.
Ahiabor said on July 8, this year, an informant alerted the Accra Regional Police Command that the accused had stock-piled mining explosives at a densely populated area at Abeka, Accra, and offering them for sale to unauthorised persons.
Prosecution said the complainants feigned interest and contacted Armah on phone that they wanted to buy mining explosives for mining.
Ahiabor said on July 12, after communication between the complainants and the accused, the accused offered five sacks of mining explosives for sale, and were arrested together with the explosives.
Ahiabor said a search conducted at Armah’s residence revealed four packets of mining explosive caps used in detonating the mining explosives.
He said police again retrieved 104 sacks of mining explosives and two sacks of mining explosive caps from a house at Abeka Kwame Close, where Armah kept goods.
Armah in his caution statement admitted ownership of the exhibits, and stated that he had the desire to operate in arms and ammunitions business, and that one Sarpong supplied him the explosives and accessories.
Inspector Ahiabor said Armah confessed that he was dealing in the mining explosives together with with Sika and , and this led to their arrest.
After investigations, the three were charged and put before the court. – GNA