'Girlfriends' of Koforidua robbers burst into tears as court remands suspects

Girlfriends and Family members of suspected robbers arrested by the Eastern Regional Police command burst into tears Wednesday Morning when the Koforidua Circuit Court ‘A’ presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Janet Anim Marfo esq refused plea by counsels for the accused persons, and remanded them into Prison custody.

Family members and friends of the suspects trooped to court to sympathize with them, however three ladies believed to be girlfriends of the accused persons weaped uncontrollably after the suspects were refused bail.

The case has been adjourned to February 22, 2017.

The three accused persons who made appearance in Court were Daniel Bekoe 29, computer technician, Divine Modzaka, 27, a phone repairer and Edward Nketia, 20, Driver. The fourth accused person, Richard Obeng is however at Large.

They were charged with three counts of Conspiracy to Commit Crime, Robbery and dishonestly receiving.

Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Bernard Annor explained to the court that,complainants in the case are students, Mason waiter and unemployed all residents in New Juaben municipality while the accused persons Daniel Bekoe ,Devine Modzaka and Edward Nketia also resides in Bohye, a suburb in the municipality.

According to Chief Inspector Annor, lately, residents of Effiduase and its environs have been experiencing number of robbery cases.

He said on February 11,2017 at about 1:30am, three masked armed men broke into the complainants room located at Asokorekuma ,attacked and robbed them off their belongings which includes 4 HP laptops,one Motorola third generation mobile phone, Sumsung mobile phone, one CCIT mobile phone, a Motorola S mobile phone, a multi TV recorder, a 42 inches LG plasma TV and cash of ghc500. He said the total value of the items robbed amounted to GHC 11,700.

The Prosecutor said,the complainants made report to the police and whiles investigations were ongoing , police had information that second accused ,Devine Modzaka has the HP laptops which were robbed in the complainants room at his U-Net Computer shop hence police arrested him and retrieved the laptops.

During interrogation and caution statement, Modzaka mentioned Daniel Obeng ,first accused,who brought the HP laptops for recording of password.

He said, police quickly went to arrest him at his phone shop in Pentoawola area in which one of the robbed Motorola mobile phone was retrieved from his shop.

The Prosecutor Chief Inspector Annor further told the court that,the second first person also named the fourth accused person now at large ,Richard Obeng a taxi driver in charge of Opel Caravan with registration number GT 4869-V.

He said, Police attempt to lure and arrest Obeng proved futile as he fled into the Bush upon sensing danger but later sent third accused ,Edward Nketia to drive his abandoned taxi cab to him at his hideout ,however,was arrested by the police and a search in his car led to the retrieval of three black masks in a letter box.

The Prosecutor said ,a further search in the room of suspect Obeng at water Works area in the presence of his mother led to further retrieval of a metal big crow bar and a Hammer suspected to be implements used for carrying out the crime in the municipality .

The prosecutor therefore prayed to court to remand the suspects to enable further investigation whiles the dockets are forwarded to Attorney Generals office for advice .