Six persons held for murder of assemblyman

An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Friday remanded in prison custody for two weeks, six persons in connection with the murder of Mr Isaac Otu Laryea, an assembly member of Kpone Katamanso electoral area, near Tema.

They are John Amewugae, driver, Denladi Magajia, Labourer, Kwabena Kumake, alias Ayigbe killer, Francis Fiawo, welder, Seth Tamakloe, a businessman, and Ben Akakpo, unemployed.

Their plea was not taken and they are to reappear on December 8. Police Inspector John Balieb told the tribunal presided over by Mr Ziblim Moru that the accused persons are members of an armed robbery syndicate based at Ashaiman.

He said on June 17, this year, Mr Otu Laryea and his brother Joseph Nii Laryea, with the help of others, arrested two suspects who had gone to Katamanso to steal from a fishpond. Prosecution said Nii Laryea was driving the suspects in his car together with Otu Laryea to Ashaiman police station when they got a call that a taxicab without a registration number with members of an armed gang was heading towards them.

According to the prosecution, Otu and Nii Laryea chased and signalled the driver to stop but he ignored the signal and in the process when Nii Laryea drove beside the taxi the accused persons shot several times into Nii Laryea's car.

The bullet hit Otu who was occupying the front seat, killing him instantly and the accused escaped. Police investigations led to their arrest.