Four remanded for robbery

Four people were on Tuesday remanded by an Accra Circuit Court for conspiracy to commit crime, robbery and causing unlawful damage.

James Lawer, a driver's mate, Wisdom Glorkpor, steel bender, Solomon Klutse, auto sprayer and Francis Adika, steel bender; were said to have conspired and robbed one Bishop Samuel Owusu of his one Akai and one Samsung flat screen TV, seven mobile phones, one Samsung Galaxy Tablet, one ipad, one travelling bag containing jewelries, all worth GHc40,000.00, and an amount of GHc 1,700.00.00, $3,500 and 500 Rands.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy and robbery.

On the charge of causing unlawful damage James, Wisdom and Francis pleaded not guilty while Solomon pleaded guilty.

He told the Court that he was called by James on the said date to accompany him together with Dauda and Rashid both at large. They got to the second complainant’s house and Rashid broke the door with a stone. After that they heard a gunshot and they all ran away.

He pleaded with the Court to have mercy on him and forgive him of his sins.

Solomon was convicted by the Court on his own plea of guilty but sentenced was deferred to the next adjourned date.

The four were all remanded into prison custody to reappear on August 19.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), K Bempah told the Court that the complainants in the case are Bishop Samuel Owusu, a Pastor and Emmanuel Mensah Ashong, a businessman both residents of Santeo, near Nmai-Dzorn in the Greater Accra Region.

He said on July 15, the first complainant attended an all-night service at Achimota leaving behind his wife, mother-in-law and children and at dawn on July 16, at about 0140 hours, a gang of armed robbers attacked his house.

The prosecution said according to his mother-in-law, four unmasked men with one holding a gun woke her up at gun point and ordered her to lead them to the complainant’s wife bedroom and she complied.

He told the Court that the accused persons then forcibly opened the door and ordered the complainant’s wife to lie on the floor and stole the above listed items and bolted.

On the same night the accused persons attacked the second complainant, Emmanuel’s house nearby. Emmanuel saw them and shot at them and it hit James, but all managed to escape.

He told the Court that blood stains led to the arrest of James who was hiding in the room of Wisdom and Francis, who were also identified by the witnesses as being part of the robbery gang.

The prosecution said upon interrogation, James mentioned Solomon, Dauda and Rashid as his accomplices.

Police intelligence led to the arrest of Solomon at his hideout in Ashiaman. James and Solomon in their caution statement both admitted the offences.