Seventeen people, including two community elders, Nana Akwasi Sarfo and Nana Akwasi Adu Gyamfi, arrested by the police over their alleged involvement in a mob attack on Wednesday, appeared before the Nkawie Circuit Court and were all remanded.
They were said to have armed themselves with guns, machetes and other offensive weapons as they laid siege at a sand-winning site at Freyase in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, where they beat up the sand-winners, truck drivers and traders.
They also seized cash and mobile phones from the victims.
The accused are angry at the lease of the swath of land by the chief of Abuakwa-Apemhase for sand-winning without the approval of the elders of the community.
They pleaded not guilty to the offence and would make their next appearance in court on January 29.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Albert Oddai Owusu told the court presided over by Mr William Boampong that the police received information on January 17, that the group had packed themselves on a Hyundai mini-bus, two taxis and motorbikes, carrying all sorts of offensive weapons and heading for Freyase.
They quickly responded and managed to arrest them at the sand-winning site, where live and spent �AA� cartridges, dagger and other dangerous weapons were retrieved.
Also recovered were 30 mobile phones and cash of GH�1,090.00 they forcibly took away from the victims.
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