Chief, two others in court for robbing sand winners

Accra, March 7, GNA - Three people, including a chief who are being held for robbing two sand winners at Adjieman, near Amasaman, on Monday appeared before an Accra Fast Track High Court.

They are William Nelson Affum aka Joe Tapo, Chief of Ankwado Doboro, near Nsawam, William Okyere aka Mpakadan and Isaac Odartey. Odartey, who is on bail was not in court.

While Affum is being held for abetment of robbery and robbery, Okyere and Odartey are facing charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery. Affum and Okyere have pleaded not guilty and the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist have remanded them to reappear on 25 March.

The court is expected to deliver its ruling in respect of a bail application put in by Mr Francis E. Polley, defence counsel. Mr Kwame Amoako, Assistant State Attorney, prayed the court to decline the bail application saying the accused would interfere with investigation.

Mr Amoako said the assertion that Affum was a chief was not known to him, noting that the issues before the court were not about chieftaincy but robbery.

According to the prosecution, on June 12, 2007, Mr Ibrahim Martey, a sand winner, was driving the vehicle of Mr Adjei Quaye Ayitey, another sand winner, towards a sand pit where they both worked. On board the vehicle was one Kadija Abubaka.

On their way, the complainants saw another vehicle trailing them and firing indiscriminately.

The prosecution said one of the rear tyres of Mr Martey's vehicle was hit by a bullet compelling them to stop.

The prosecutor said about eight armed men wearing masks attacked Mr Martey at gunpoint and robbed him of five million cedis (500 GH cedis) and other personal belongings. Kadija fled into the bush for her dear life. Mr Martey managed to identify Okyere and Odartey as the two men who attacked and robbed him. A report was made to the Police and Okyere in his cautioned statement to the Police mentioned Affum as the one who supplied him with the gun. In Affum's cautioned statement, he confessed giving guns to Okyere and other people.