Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 9 August 2014

Source: GNA

Two soldiers remanded for robbery

Two soldiers who allegedly robbed two persons of their monies at Kwabenya on Friday has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Lance Corporals Mark Gwira Forkes and Dickson Reubens pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and two counts of robbery.

The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri remanded them into Police custody to reappear on August 22.

This was after the court turned down a bail application put in by their lawyer.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick A. Morkeh prayed the court to remand the two soldiers pending further investigations.

DSP Morkeh told the court that on August 4, this year at about 2100 hours ,the Kwabenya District Police had information that three military personnel on board a taxi cub with registration number GC 6971-12 had arrested, beaten and handcuffed a young man in a taxi at Dome Pillar two and were being pursued by an angry mob.

Prosecution said the Police on receipt of the information proceeded to the Haatso Wetlands Police Post, where they met the two Military men, who claimed that they were handing over the handcuffed young man by name Mohammed Abdul Fatau to the Police.

All of them were brought to the Kwabenya District Police Command and during interrogation, it was revealed that the suspects attacked and assaulted the said young man (Fatau) for no apparent reasons.

DSP Morkeh said at the Station, one Daniel Ako-Nai, identified the suspects as those who attacked and robbed him of his GH¢200.00 and a wrist watch valued at GH¢500.00 as well as personal effects.

The following day, prosecution said one Francis Osei also identified the two soldiers as having attacked him and robbed him of cash in the sum of 2,200 Euros and later abandoned him on the Tema Motorway.

According to the prosecution three other victims who had suffered the same plight at the hands of the soldiers also came to identify them.