CATTLE DEALER STEALS CATTLE (The Mirror Saturday February 14,2009PAGE 35)

From Benjamin Xornam Glover,
Bolgatanga

A 48-year-old cattle dealer, Musah Aduni, has been remanded in prison custody by the Bolgatanga Circuit Court, for possessing seven cattle valued at GH¢4,500 belonging to one Amadu Jallo.
Musah who pleaded not guilty, would reappear on February 25, 2009.
Also to reappear in court are two of Musah's daughters, (names withheld), aged 18 and 17, both students. They have been charged with aiding and abetting their father to commit crime.
The two girls were granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 each with a surety each.
Police Detective Inspector, John Agyuah Chief, told the court, presided over by Mr William Boampong, that on February 4, 2009, the complainant, Amadu Jallo, a cattle herdsman returned to his village Kajolo, near Paga with his cattle after the day’s grazing and allowed the animals to hang around his hut.
The prosecutor said at about 6:30 p.m., Amadu asked his son, Issah, to drive the animals into the kraal. He said in doing so, Issah observed that 10 cattle were absent.
According to the prosecutor, Issah drew the attention of his father, who immediately embarked on a search within the neighbourhood.
Inspector Agyuah said Amadu later reported the matter to the owner of the cattle, one Azupero Parachana, who also joined the search party.
He said on February 5, 2009, the search party continued with the search of the animals and in the process, Issah detected the signs indicating the movement of the cattle and alerted other members of the team.
Mr Agyuah said the team followed the prints and ended up in the house of the accused persons.
He said when confronted, Musah confirmed that the cattle were in his possession but added that they were brought to him by some Fulani man he did not immediately identify.
He said the accused persons later led the search party to his living room where the animals were being kept.
The prosecutor said the complainant saw seven cows which he identified as his.
According to Inspector Agyuah, the accused person pleaded with the complainant to take the seven animals away, explaining that if he had known the cattle belonged to him, he would not have accepted them from the said Fulani man.
Inspector Agyuah said the complainant objected to the offer and sent word to the Chairman of the Paga Cattle Dealers Association, who arrived later with some police men who arrested Amadu.
The prosecutor said it was at this point that the accused person pleaded alibi, claiming he had passed the night with the wife at Kajolo village and had just arrived in the house.
He said further investigation conducted into the matter led to the arrest of the two daughters who when cautioned, gave contradictory statements all in an attempt to support the plea of alibi by their father.