Suspected robber jailed for escaping from lawful custody

Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - A 21-year-old suspected armed robber, who escaped from the grips of the Police at Adabraka in Accra was on Wednesday sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment with hard by a Circuit Court in Accra.

Kofi Owusu, unemployed, pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody and the court chaired by Mr Anthony Oppong convicted him accordingly. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Amegah told the court that Owusu resides at Kokomba Market and on July 14, this year, he and one Robert Quarshie, now at large were arrested for their alleged involvement in a number of robbery cases in Accra.

Owusu and Quarshie were put before the Adjabeng Magistrate Court but the court remanded them to assist the Police in their investigations. The Prosecutor said on July 30 they were brought out from the Ministries Police cells for further investigations at the Regional Criminal Investigations Division Office.

At the Office, the Prosecution said, Owusu managed to pick a Police handcuff key from one of the tables and loosened his side of the handcuff that had been used to fasten them together.

At about 1830 hours, same day, while Owusu and Quarshie were being driven back to the Ministries Police cells in a Police Nissan bus they jumped through the windows of the bus immediately it got stuck in a traffic jam at the Trades Union Congress Traffic Lights. The Prosecution said the escorting Police Officers chased them but were unable to apprehend them. On September 20, this year, Owusu was arrested at the Kokomba Market.