A Tamale Circuit Court presided over by His Honour Alexander Graham has remanded three suspects into police custody following their arrest for the alleged theft of telecommunication cables. Information from a GhanaWeb report indicates that the individuals were caught in the act of excavating and cutting underground cables belonging to a major service provider in the regional capital.
A statement from the Northern Regional Police Command identifies the suspects as residents of the Tamale metropolis. According to the police report the suspects were found with several meters of heavy duty copper wiring and various cutting tools at the time of their apprehension. The police prosecutor informed the court that the activities of the suspects caused significant disruption to communication services in parts of the Northern Region.
During the court proceedings the prosecution argued against granting bail on the grounds that the suspects might interfere with ongoing efforts to track down potential accomplices. A Citi Newsroom report notes that the court agreed with the prosecution and cited the gravity of the offense as it involves national infrastructure classified under essential services. The defense counsel did not immediately secure bail for the accused persons.
The Ghana Police Service has cautioned members of the public against the destruction of public utility installations. Official statements from the police indicate that surveillance has been increased around sensitive infrastructure sites to prevent further economic sabotage. The three suspects are expected to reappear in court on October 31 for the formal commencement of the trial while the seized items remain in police custody as evidence.