The suspects remanded into prison custody
THE OKAIKOI Sub Metro Sanitation and Motor Court has remanded seven persons into prison custody for defecating and dumping refuse in gutters.
The seven suspects include Nii Ga, Ofori Andrews, Larbi Thomas, Mallam Baba, Afram Kofi, Benjamin Kuma and Charles Sackey.
This was after the suspects refused to appear before the court four consecutive times after being served letters by the court.
The court presided over by Emmanuel Nana Antwi-Barimah, who was infuriated by their actions remanded them last Friday to reappear on February 22 for the trial to begin.
Presenting the facts of the case, Philip Odosu, the prosecuting officer, said 13 persons including tenants and a landlord were served letters to appear before the court on November 30, 2011 for refusing to put up a toilet facility in their homes and dumping refuse and liquid waste into gutters in their homes.
None of the suspects reported in court so a bench warrant was issued for their arrest.
Luck eluded the seven suspects, who were apprehended and brought to court last Friday morning to explain their absence in court.
The suspects pleaded guilty but could not explain why they were absent.
The seven persons, including a landlord and tenants, were among 13 persons who had refused to appear before the court.
Before remanding the suspects into prison custody, the trial judge stated that the seven persons deliberately refused to appear before him four consecutive times after being served since November 30, 2011.
A bench warrant was however issued by the court to that effect to force them to appear before the court.
Emmanuel Nana Antwi-Barimah expressed dismay about their attitude.
He warned residents within his jurisdiction, including Kissiman, Abeka, Lapaz, Tesano, Mallam-Odorkor and Old Fadama who have refused to put up toilet facilities in their houses to do so before they were chased out.
By Linda Tenyah
