A farmer who allegedly sprayed pepper into the eyes of a motor rider and stole his motorbike at Agyemankata, near Kwabenya in Accra has been put before an Accra Circuit Court.

Emmanuel Quartey aka Nana has pleaded not guilty to robbery and has been remanded into Police custody to appear again on January 1, 2018.

Police prosecutors said the victim, Rawuf Annas, operates an ‘okada’ business around Kwabenya and its environs with a motorbike registered M-17GR 8242.

The accused also reside at Katapor, near Kwabenya.

On December 18, 2017 at about 01:15 hours, the victim was riding his motorbike in the area when the accused person stopped him and asked that he takes him (accused) to his house at Katapor.

According to the prosecution, the victim charged the accused person GHC5 for the trip and while on their way, the accused asked him to stop at Agyemankata, a suburb near Kwabenya instead of Katapor.

The victim complied and the accused alighted. The accused dipped his hands into his pocket under the pretext of bringing out money to pay the victim but rather pulled out a pepper spray and sprayed same into the face of the victim.

Prosecution said the victim shouted for help while the accused bolted with the motorbike.

The incident was reported to the Police and on December 19, this year, Quartey was arrested at Asamankese.

During investigations, prosecution said Quartey admitted having been picked by the victim on his motorbike and he was dropped at Agyemankata but denied robbing him of his bike.