Ataa Ayi, others before court

Accra, March 2, GNA - Barely 48 hours after his capture by the police, in glare of publicity, the police have brought the man they described as a notorious armed robber, Aryee Ayeetey, alias Atta Ayi, to court to face a first robbery charge against him.

The police brought him before the Adjabeng District Magistrate Court, with Emmanuel Sackey, alias Mpata, his deputy, for killing and robbing a Japanese of 128.1 million cedis.


The court did not take their plea and remanded them to assist the Police in investigating over 50 robbery cases.


The two have been charged with conspiracy and robbery.


The same court had earlier remanded Prince Isaac Arthur and Blessed Secko who are accomplices.


They are to reappear on March 14.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Michael Y. Asamoah told the court that Ataa Ayi had been on police wanted list for a long time. Police Chief Inspector Asamoah said Ataa Ayi, a fitter and Mpata, an artist, operated with a gang of robbers.


They included Secko, alias Prince, Arthur, alias Mustapha and Michael Tagoe, also known as Nii Armah, Nana Osei, alias Razak, Samuel Kweku Annan, alias Sammy Tugah, Koblah Agbodoga, alias Rojay and others who are on remand at Nsawam Medium Prisons.


He said they were involved in a series of robberies all over the country, especially in the Accra and Tema metropolis, where they used G3 and AK 47 rifles to operate.


According to prosecution Ataa Ayi and his accomplices, in many cases, shot and killed victims who resisted their attacks.


Police Chief Inspector Asamoah said on September 7, last year, at about 0830 hours Ataa Ayi, Mpata and others now on remand put on masks, trailed some Japanese nationals who went to withdraw 128,118,640 cedis from Obeibea Branch of the Standard Chartered Bank, to Oasis Hotel and robbed them of the amount.

In the process, Atta Ayi shot Mobuyoshie Mochizuku, aged 70, with a G3 rifle.


Mochizuku later died at the 37 Military Hospital.


The prosecution said Ataa Ayi alleged that he received 35 million as his booty and gave Mpata 30 million cedis, Arthur had 32 million cedis, and Blessed had 30 million cedis.


On February 18 and 28, this year they were arrested respectively upon a tip off.