Koala robber denies shooting victim

One of the five persons standing trial over the Koala Shopping Centre robbery has denied shooting Lydia Horsu, the marketing administrator of the shop.

According to Stanley Obaliko aka Mohammed Sulemana, he did not shoot the victim who appeared in court in clutches yesterday.

He claimed that he rather struggled with Lydia over her bag when he attempted to snatch it from her.

Sulemana, who was without a lawyer, was cross-examining the complainant (Lydia) after she had told the court that the robbery incident nearly made her lose the left leg.

He said Lydia would be deceiving the court if she claimed that she saw him (Sulemana) because on the day of the incident, he was wearing a black helmet which would make identifying him difficult.

But Lydia insisted in a court presided over by Aboagye Tandoh that Sulemana, who was the pillion rider, shot at her, adding that the accused had the gun in one hand while he struggled with her over the bag with the other hand.

She maintained that Sulemana succeeded in taking the bag from her, shot her in the thigh and bolted on the motorbike which was being driven by Okoe Quarcoe.

Okoe, who was also without any legal representation, pleaded with the court to have mercy on him, stressing that he did not know Lydia in person and that he did not also cross her as the motor rider but instead drove past her.

Earlier, George Asamaney, lawyer for Michael Edoe Ahiataku aka Old Soldier – a private security guard – and Gilbert Osabutey aka Obolo, shop supervisor at Koala, wondered if the complainant until the incident had any problem with Osabutey, who was Lydia’s colleague.

In an answer to a question, Lydia said she also knew Michael as a security guard at the shopping centre but denied seeing him at post on the day of the incident.

Joseph Turkson, counsel for Frederick Sedro Kwame aka Fred, a private security guard, asked the complainant if she knew the accused but she answered in the negative.

All the accused persons have denied the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

The case has been adjourned until April 4, 2016.

The prosecutor, Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka, told the court that on January 9 this year, the gang conspired and robbed the victim of her Nokia mobile phone worth GHC800, a black ladies’ bag valued at GHC200, a Koala ID card, invoices and an amount of GHC100.

Mohammed is facing an additional charge of possessing one automatic MAB foreign pistol No. PA151674189, six live 9mm ammunition and five empty cartridges.

Mohammed and Okoe are also standing trial for intentionally and unlawfully causing grievous harm to Lydia.

Lydia had told the court how two men on motorbike trailed her from Cantonments, Accra, when she was on her way to the airport branch of the shop ‘till she was attacked at the American Embassy area.