Fresh charges for Cop killers

State prosecutors in the trial of the gang of robbers who exchanged fire with a team of police officers at Weija in Accra resulting in the death of a police officer, have substituted the facts sheets in respect of the case.

The substitution saw the arraignment of five more persons before the Accra Circuit Court for the robbery trial.

They are Kwadwo Effah aka Kudjo a.k.a Obolo, common carrier; Kofi Adu aka Debra, driver; Dennis Ofori, unemployed; Isaac Ofosu, driver’s mate and Yaw Asiedu aka Nana Yaw, driver’s mate.

The prosecution had earlier whisked Issac Kwasi Boadi aka KK, unemployed; Kwame Anokye aka Tagor, driver’s mate; Amos Bortey Borketey, driver; Isaac Addo Mensah aka Almera; Yaw Richard aka Opuni, driver; Sylvester Otwe, driver’s mate and Kwasi Bentum, farmer, before the court each charged with conspiracy, robbery and attempted robbery.

All 12 accused persons are said to have on December 9, 2014 at Madina, a suburb of Accra, robbed Melcom Stores of two big flat screen television sets valued at GH¢5,800 and unspecified brand of new mobile phones, value not yet known.

The accused persons, according to the prosecutor, Inspector K. Adu, on December 6, 2014 at Weija, attempted to rob contrary to Section 18 (1) & 149 of Act 29/60.

Also in the dock were Mary Komabu aka New Town Madam, Feyi Stephen and Evelyn Dorson.

In the case of New Town Madam, the police officer said that between the months of December 2014 and January 2015 in Tema, aided and abetted the 12 robbers to rob.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, Inspector Adu told the court, presided over by Francis Obiri, that the prosecution intended to substitute the charge sheet in respect of the case.

The trial judge accordingly struck out the case involving the 10 accused persons earlier brought before the court.

In the fresh case, the accused persons denied any wrongdoing.

Mr. Obiri admitted New Town Madam, Feyi and Dorson to bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 each with three sureties, two to be public servants.

The others were remanded into police custody to reappear on March 16, 2015.

George Asamaney, counsel for Amos, Bentum and New Town Madam, said the prosecution had presented the same old facts before the court.

He said there was nothing new in the substituted facts sheets.

Augustine Gyamfi, who appeared for Obolo, accused the police of beating his client who, as a result, had made his eyes turn red.

The judge ordered the police to take Obolo to the hospital for treatment.

Briefing the court, Inspector Adu stated that at about 1:58 am on December 9, 2014, the accused persons and the four others – now at large – attacked Melcom Stores at Madina, shot and killed the security officer, one Emmanuel Torsu, and broke into the store.

He said they managed to rob the aforementioned items and bolted, adding that on January 6, 2015, the Accra Regional Police Command gathered intelligence that the accused persons and the four others had armed themselves with pistols and vehicles to rob at Weija and Abeka Lapaz and so a team of policemen were detailed to intercept and counter their intended operation.

The prosecutor indicated that the team proceeded to Weija where they spotted KK, Ike Ofori and Yaw Ampomah – now deceased – on board a Ford bus heading towards Kasoa in the Central Region.

He said the police followed them gradually, but the accused persons noticed them and quickly made a u-turn towards Accra. The police followed them to Bortiano junction, where the gang started shooting at them, resulting in the death of Constable Prince Charles Akata.

Inspector Adu said that the police returned fire and also hit Ofori and Ampomah whilst the rest managed to escape with gunshot wounds. Constable Akata, Ofori and Ampomah were rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.

He further told the court that the team proceeded to Abeka Lapaz and managed to arrest Tagor, Borketey, Almera, Opuni, Otwe and Bentum. Prosecution said during investigations, it came to light that New Town Madam was the one who usually sponsored the robbers.

KK, who was receiving herbal treatment at Asuboi, was also busted. Later, the others were apprehended.