3 robbers charged for attacking judge

Three persons are in hot waters for allegedly robbing four people, including Justice Araba Esaaba Torkornu, a judge of the Court of Appeal.

They are Dickson Addai aka Jah Rule; Prince Owusu aka Owusu and Gbekpor Marvin aka Lion.

The three, and three others on the run, on December 8, 2016, between Baatsona and Anyaa – both suburbs of Accra – reportedly conspired to rob the complainants.

Booty

According to the prosecutor, Superintendent Kwaku  Bempah, the accused persons at Anyaa on the same day, snatched the judge’s Toyota Fortuner with registration number GM 6852-13, an Apple Macbook laptop worth $1,300; Iphone valued at GH¢600; GH¢900 cash; $50 and three Bibles.

Superintendent Kwaku  Bempah said the accused persons wielding cutlasses and pump action guns, also robbed Francis Kofi Torkornu, husband of the judge, of his 11 Zambian Kwatcha, a Delta Sky Miles membership card, one NACOB staff ID Card and $50.

Also at Anyaa, the gang robbed one Anthony Kodua Bediako, a businessman, of his Hyundai Santafe 4X4 vehicle, Huawei mobile phone and GH¢350 cash.

In the case of Patience Hammond, a trader – the last victim – the prosecutor said the accused persons robbed her of her jewelries worth GH¢5,000, five assorted mobile phones, a flat screen television set and GH¢5,000 cash.

Jah Rule is facing an additional charge of possessing a pump action gun with 21 live cartridges without lawful authority.

Custody

Before Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, the accused persons variously denied the charges and were remanded into police custody until January 30, 2017.

This was after the court had refused a passionate bail application filed by Peace FM’s Tweneboah Koduah (TK) and Augustine Gyamfi, lawyers for the accused persons.

The court held that it did not intend to grant the bail and that it would await the arrival of the substantive judge.

Facts

The accused persons are residents of Chantan and Nanakrom. On the said date, the judge at about 8:30 pm was on board the said vehicle and was returning from night church service but upon reaching her residence and opening her main gate to enter, the accused persons, masked and holding weapons, attacked her, subjected her entire family to severe trauma and under threats of harm, robbed her of the afore-stated items.

The gang, in their attempt to drive the judge’s vehicle out of the house, bumped into Francis who was returning from work. He was also assaulted and the things mentioned earlier seized from him.

Unsatisfied with their booty, the night marauders further went to Anyaa and robbed the two other victims of their various belongings amidst assault and bolted.

They were later apprehended and charged with the offences.