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Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 22 March 2007

Source: GNA

Robbers attack public officer

Sunyani March 22, GNA- Two suspected armed robbers including a woman have attacked Mr. Joseph Mantey Gyampo of the Brong Ahafo Regional Audit Service, at his residence in Sunyani and made away with a mobile phone, a cheque book, car keys and a driving license and 500,000 cedis. The police have mounted a search for the suspects as Mr. Gyampo had identified the woman as Akuah Helena, whom he knew at Dansoman in Accra, before being transferred to Sunyani.

Chief Superintendent of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, told the Ghana News Agency on March 12, this year that Helena called Mr. Gyampo on phone that she needed four million cedis to start a chop bar business in Tamale.

Helena gave Mr. Gyampo an account number in which to deposit the amount but he asked her to rather travel to Sunyani for the money. The police commander said when the woman arrived in Sunyani, Mr. Mantey told her he could only offer her two million cedis because he wanted to buy the bungalow he was occupying and was to pay a deposit of 10 million cedis.

Helena took the money and Mr. Gyampo saw her off at the Sunyani main station to board a vehicle back to her base but on his return after work he met Helena at home.

Chief Superintendent Yohuno said Mr. Gyampo enquired why she was back and Helena said she wanted to spend the night and travel early the next morning to Tamale.

He said whilst in the room Helena said she was going to visit the toilet but returned a few minutes later with a man wielding a locally manufactured pistol who asked Mr. Mantey to provide money, his car keys and all his car documents.

The municipal police commander said whilst the armed robber kept guard over the victim, Helena was busy searching the room for money and other valuables. Chief Superintendent Yohuno said Helena assisted the man to tie up Mr. Mantey's hands and legs with a rope, gagged him with a towel, covered him with a blanket and then injected him with a substance to weaken him.

He said the suspects then packed the victim's television set and fridge into his car and attempted to drive the car away. Chief Superintendent Yohuno said Mr. Mantey managed to free himself and reported the matter to the police.

He said Police found four cartridges, a syringe, rope, blanket, towel and an empty bottle in the room when they went to the victim's house and appealed to the general public to assist the police to arrest the suspects.