Suspected car snatcher saved from lynching

Tepa, Aug 25, GNA - A 28-year-old suspected car snatcher ran out of luck when he failed in a broad daylight attempt to seize an Opel Astra taxi cab at knife point and was set on by a mob.

The timely intervention by the police saved John Nyadzi from being lynched and he is now receiving medical attention at the Tepa Government Hospital in the Ahafo-Ano North District under a 24-hour police guard. Assistant Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Adu Boahen, Tepa Divisional Crime Officer, told the Ghana News Agency that they received a distress call from a Good Samaritan at about 1030 hours on August 24 that a mob was on the verge of meting out instant justice to a suspected robber and quickly moved in.

On arrival, he said, they found the suspect badly beaten and took him to hospital.

Nyadzi was said to have forced open the door of the cab, pulled a knife at a mechanic who was behind the steering wheel and demanded that he surrendered the ignition key. The mechanic Sumaila Issifu wou ld not be intimidated by the threat and sent a hefty blow to the face of the robber that dazed him. Having rendered Nyadzi weak, he raised the alarm, attracting a crowd that pounced on him, punching, kicking and hitting him with every object they laid hands on.

The Divisional Crime Officer said the suspect would be put before court.