Armed robber refused bail by Tema High Court

A Tema High Court on Wednesday refused to grant bail to Kissei Otubuah, a fisherman who, together with three others, has been on trial for armed robbery at the Tema circuit tribunal since April last year.

Turning down the request for bail, Mrs Felicity Amoah, the presiding judge said she takes a very serious view of the case in the wake of the rampant armed robberies, adding: "I find it unwise, at least for the moment, to grant the accused bail".

She advised counsel for the accused, Mr Alfred Agbesi, to re-apply at a later date.

Otubuah and Korley Sorgbordjor, a caddie, have been charged for robbery at the residence of Mr William Christian Tandoh, Director of the Celebrity Golf Club House.

Otubuah who has been in custody since April last year, petitioned the High Court following the refusal of the tribunal to grant him bail.

The two have been accused of stealing 9.8 million cedis, a single barrel gun, gold trinkets, two wristwatches, two electronic calculators and other valuable items belonging to Mr Tandoh. Mr Agbesi had argued that his client never took part in the robbery.

He denied claims by the police that a single barrel gun stolen during the robbery was found in the house of Otubuah, saying the police never went to his client's house.

He said on the day of the offence his client, a fisherman, had just returned from sea and was relaxing at his house at the Sakumono village when the police arrested him.

The prosecution said on April 22, 2000, Otubuah, Sorgbordjor, and two others, now at large, attacked Mr Tandoh's residence at about 2 a.m. after they had tied up the watchman and the complainant's driver.

While Otubuah and Sorgbordjor guarded their captives, the other two broke into the room, held Mr Tandoh and his wife at gunpoint and ordered them to surrender all their money. The couple brought out a total of 9.8 million cedis.

The prosecution said while the robbers were at it, the driver managed to untie himself and ran to Sakumono to raise the alarm but the thieves bolted with the money, a single barrel gun and other belongings before help came.

During police investigations, Sorgbordjor was arrested and this led to the arrest of Otubuah.

Police recovered Mr Tandoh's gun, which was hidden in the ground in front of Otubua's room.