Court remands five armed robbers into prison custody

A Fiapre Circuit Court on Monday remanded five alleged armed robbers who attacked passengers on the Nsotre-Berekum road into prison custody.

Their pleas were not taken and would re-appear on Friday, February 1. They were, Abudu Dramani 30, a Burkinabe, Hamza Musa 45, Haru Watar 38, Abdul Hamidu Zibo 28, and Suraji Osman 22 all Malians.

Chief Superintendent of Police, Peter Baba, Brong-Ahafo Regional Crime Officer told the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani that the complainants were leaders of Saint Theresa’s Parish of Roman Catholic Church at Berekum.

He said on January 16, they attended a prayer retreat in the morning at the Grotto, near Amanfoso off the Nsoatre-Berekum road and on their return they noticed that the road had been blocked with boulders and wood and saw five armed robbers holding guns and clubs.

Chief Superintendent Baba said the driver of the vehicle quickly reversed but was blocked by another vehicle behind them.

The robbers broke the glass on the driver’s side with a club, however, the passengers managed to escape to the retreat grounds and were escorted by the Berekum police to safety.

He said the youngmen made away with two diaries, a file and GH¢150.00.

Chief Superintendent Baba said the police combed the area and found the armed robbers hiding in an uncompleted building and were arrested with two live cartridges found in the pocket of Dramani.

They led the police to a nearby bush where weapons used in the robbery were hidden.

Chief Superintendent Baba said after their arrest, the police conducted an identification parade on Friday, January 18 at the Sunyani Municipal Police Station and Osman was identified by a passenger as the one who broke the glass of the vehicle.