Two granted bail for robbery

Two persons facing trial at the Tarkwa Circuit Court for allegedly robbing two men at Bonsawire on August 28, 2015 have been remanded into prison custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

The two, Alhaji Ali Saliu, an excavator operator, 22, and Martin Coffie, a welder, 36, who had since been in prison custody after the incident, pleaded not guilty.

They will re-appear before the court presided over by Mr. Alex Obeng Asante on September 8.

The Prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah, told the Court that on August 28, 2015, the complainants Joseph Aidoo and Joel Adams, who deal in gold bearing stones, went to an illegal mining site at Bonsawire to purchase gold bearing stones.

The accused persons and 13 others, who had laid ambush, attacked the complainants with cutlasses and other offensive weapons, subjected them to severe beatings and robbed them of GH¢9,000.00 cash, 22 mini sacks of gold bearing stones worth GH¢2,800.00 and one Techno mobile phone.

He said Aidoo and Adams informed the police about the robbery and they were issued with police medical forms to visit the hospital for treatment.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said on August 31, the police arrested Coffie at an illegal mining site at Bonsawire.

He said the first accused Alhaji Saliu on hearing the issue chased the police officers to the bush and also struggled with them in an attempt to rescue his accomplice.

The following day, Saliu went to the Tarkwa police station and he was arrested for questioning.

The Prosecutor said a search at Saliu’s house by police officers did not succeed because his colleagues attacked the officers and prevented them from carrying out their lawful duty.

He said investigations are underway.