Prophetess killers in court

Two out of the six suspected armed robbers said to have murdered Prophetess Agnes Koomson, head pastor of Grace Saviour Ministry at Sowutuom in Accra, have been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for robbery.

The accused, Nii Lamptey Daniel, 20, security guard and Yaw Dodzi, aka Awudu, 29, farmer/barber, are facing a count of conspiracy and three counts of robbery.

The accused are said to have robbed one Rev Oheneba Atuahene, head pastor of Kingdom Citizens Church based in the United Kingdom, of his GH¢1,300, Samsung S4 Galaxy mobile phone and two tablet phones – value not yet known – at about 3am at Asofan in Accra on June 5, 2014.

Nii Lamptey and Awudu are also alleged to have on the same day and time robbed one Josephine Boakye-Yiadom of her purse containing an unspecified amount of foreign currencies and one Nokia mobile phone.

The duo are reported to have also robbed one John Haya of his LG and Blackberry phones.

However, at the trial of the case in a court presided over by Francis Obiri, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, compelling the trial judge to adjourn the case to October 23, 2014.

The court was told that at about 1:30 am on the said date whilst the complainant, Rev Atuahene, and his family were fast asleep, the accused persons, armed with pistols and a sharp knife, broke into the room of the witness in the case, Hayah, and at gunpoint ordered him to lead them to the room of the complainant.

Persecution indicated that sensing danger, he (Hayah) led the accused persons to the complainant’s door and started calling him, stressing that as he (Rev Atuahene) was delaying in coming out from his room, the accused persons broke the door with their legs and at gunpoint, ordered him (Rev Atuahene) and the occupants of the house, who are witnesses in the case, to lie face down.

According to DSP Ernest Acheampong, the robbers ransacked the room and took away an amount of GH¢1,300, the complainant’s wife’s purse containing some foreign currencies, assorted mobile phones and tablet phones.

Not satisfied with their booty, the police officer stated, Awudu put a sharp knife to Rev Atuahene’s throat, requesting for additional money.

He said as Awudu was wasting time on the complainant, Nii signalled Awudu with torchlight for them to leave and so they headed towards the corridor.

DSP Acheampong stated that because Awudu was delaying, Nii shouted, “Awudu muteye,” meaning “Awudu let’s go,” and they left.

The police officer said on August 5, upon intelligence, the police arrested six suspected armed robbers, including the accused persons, adding that on August 8, the complainant identified the accused persons in an identification parade involving eleven other people.

He said the accused persons denied their involvement in the robbery but they were charged with the offences after investigation.