Cosmetic Shop robbers remanded

Two persons who robbed a cosmetic shop at gun point at Kwabenya have appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with conspiracy to rob and robbery.

Lester Mensah and Orton Kwarteng have denied the charges. Mensah was additionally charged for possessing firearms without lawful authority.

The two have been remanded into lawful custody by the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh.

Richard Opoku Asamoah aka Kooko an accomplice is said to be at large.

Complainant Veronica Asumah Yeboah gave an account of what transpired on the day of the incident.

Due to the absence of accused persons’ lawyers in court, the matter was adjourned to January 19.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kweku Bempah said the complainant resides at Pokuase, while the accused persons Mensah, Kwarteng and Asamoah are friends residing at Tema.

On December 28, last year at about 7:40 am, the complainant opened her shop for her daily business. At the shop, prosecution said Asamoah approached her to buy Aura Shower Gel and while attending to him, Mensah and Kwarteng entered the shop.

Prosecution said Mensah pointed a locally manufactured pistol at the complainant and threatened to shoot her if she shouted.

According to the prosecutor, Kwarteng sealed the mouth of the complainant with cello tape and tied her hands, while Asamoah packed assorted cosmetics into two polythene bags.

After collecting the items, prosecution said the accused persons bolted with the stolen goods in a taxi with registration number GW 8845-15 and headed towards Tema.

On their way, DSP Bempah said Asamoah realised he had left his bag containing his passport, unregistered locally manufactured pistol and quantities of cartridges at the complainant’s shop.

Asamoah, therefore, alighted and asked his accomplices to wait for him at Tetteh Quarshie round about so he could pick up his bag.

A witness in the case saw complainant and removed the cello tape and untied her hands.

Prosecution said the witness after listening to the complainant’s story traced the robbers with his taxi and with the help of the Police at Atomic, Mensah and Kwarteng were arrested.

Mensah, however, threw away the pistol but the Police retrieved it. Mensah and Kwarteng during Police interrogation admitted the offence in their respective caution statements.