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Crime & Punishment of Friday, 10 January 2014

Source: GNA

Alleged Kidnapper remanded again

A 27-year-old pastor, Ernest Abotsi (aka) Koomson has been arraigned for the second time on another kidnapping charge.

Abotsi is alleged to have kidnapped an eight-year-old girl from the Winners Chapel at North Industrial area in Accra and took away a ransom of Ghc3,000 cedis.

Abotsi’s plea was not taken and he was remanded into police custody, pending further investigations. He would reappear on January 23.

In the first case, Abotsi and Isaac Atei allegedly kidnapped a nine-year-old at Quodesh Light House Chapel at North Kaneshie.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) A. Suleman told the court that Madam Doris Boateng of Adenta was the complainant whiles the accused resided at Darkuman in Accra.

ASP Suleman said on Sunday December 8, last year at about 7:00am Madam Boateng and her 8-year-old granddaughter attended a church service at Winners Chapel at the North Industrial area branch.

The complainant, prosecution said, attended the adult service whiles the victim attended the children service.

At about 11:00am the complainant went to pick the victim from the church but realised that the victim was nowhere to be found.

Prosecution said 15 minutes later, the complainant received a call on her cell phone and the caller stated that her granddaughter had been kidnapped and that she should pay a ransom of Ghc3,000 cedis to him at Datus Complex Schools.

A few minutes later, the caller rescheduled that meeting point saying they should rather meet at an area near the Darkuman Chief’s Palace.

ASP Suleman said the complainant went there and handed over the ransom to her male friend.

After taking the ransom, Abotsi directed the complainant to a section on the NI Highway where they saw the victim sitting in front of a story building looking traumatised.

On December 23, last year, when the complainant heard about the arrest of Abotsi in a similar case, she proceeded to the Regional Police headquarters and the victim identified Abotsi as the one who kidnapped her.

During Police interrogation, Abotsi admitted kidnapping the victim and taking a ransom of Ghc3,000 cedis.