Eight remanded for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday remanded eight persons for abetment of crime and robbery.

Ibrahim Hamidu, Paul Osei, Solomon Okyere, Suleiman Alhassan, Frank Budu, Umar Satar, Ernest Yao Agbeko and Frank Adjei, together with Kwabi, now at large, were said to have conspired and robbed, Alfred Amankwah, a Purchasing Clerk, at the Produce Buying Company of an amount of GH?30,000.00.

They were remanded by the Court to reappear on February 24.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Isaac Agbemehia told the Court that the complainant is a Purchasing Clerk, at Produce Buying Company and on November 13, Ibrahim, Paul, Solomon, and Kwabi bought quantities of AK47 rifles from Suleiman, Farouk and Umar for a robbery operation at Manso-Manukrom, in the Ashanti Region.

He said the complainant had returned from the bank on November 12, 2015 and withdrew an amount of GH? 17,000.00.

He also had an amount of GH?13,000.00 which was kept in his safe in the office which was about 50 meters away from the office.

He told the Court that, at about 0100 hours on November, 13, 2015, Ibrahim who was holding an AK47 rifle with his accomplices equally armed, broke into the room of the complainant and demanded he handed over the money he withdrew from the bank.

The prosecution said the complainant told them the money was in his safe in the office.

While leading them to the office, the complainant made a dash to the house of one Appiah Osei and called for help.

Police Chief Inspector Agbemehia said Appiah Osei now deceased, admitted the complainant into his room and they both held onto the door to prevent the robbers from entering.

Ibrahim shot through the door and the bullet hit Appiah Osei in his left thigh and he subsequently died.

Ibrahim followed up to demand the keys from the complainant and in the midst of the confusion, the complainant managed to escape from the scene.

He told the Court that the accused persons went back to the complainant’s room, and managed to collect the keys to his office and robbed him of an amount of GH? 30,000.00 in his safe.

He said investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons and further investigations disclosed that Ernest and Frank were special drivers who having full knowledge of the operation drove the gang for the robbery.