GPHA worker killer grabbed

The TEMA police have shot dead a member of the alleged armed robbery syndicate who purportedly gunned down a worker of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Francis Owoteh, last month at Acheampong Village, Tema Newtown.

One other suspect, David Yaw Botei alias Macho – a 37-year-old unemployed – has also been arrested in connection with the death of the Logistics Department worker of GPHA at the Tema Fishing Harbour.

The mortal remains of the deceased, who was only identified as Sallah, have been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for autopsy while a pump action gun has been retrieved by the police.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tema Regional Police Command, informed DAILY GUIDE that on October 3, 2015 at about 2:30 am, an attempted robbery incident occurred at Abotsewe, a suburb of Tema Newtown.

The victim of the incident, Nii Teiko Tagoe’s residence was invaded by the suspected robbers who were spotted by the wife of the victim and screamed persistently for help, she said.

While the wife was screaming, the police spokeswoman maintained that the victim was also struggling in the room with one of the robbers who was wielding a pump action gun, adding that in the course of the struggle, two live ammunitions dropped on the floor.

ASP Juliana Obeng continued that upon seeing the fallen cartridges, the robbers bolted but an informant immediately informed the police about the incident and mentioned the names and identities of the robbers to them (police).

She said police personnel were quickly deployed to conduct a swoop at the hideout of the said criminals at Tema Newtown where one of the robbers, who was identified as Sallah, pulled a knife and threatened to stab the investigator of the case, who was leading the team, ASP Obeng stated.

The PRO further added that “Sallah further ran and pulled a pump action gun and fired warning shots. Police sensing danger, returned fire and in the process gunned down Sallah.”

David Botei, she noted, was also arrested in the hideout, adding that David admitted being part of the robbery incident that occurred on October 3, 2015, but denied being among the gang that perpetrated the robbery at the residence of the GPHA worker.

The police officer said investigations were ongoing and appealed to the residents of Tema Newtown and its environs to assist in the arrest of the other robbers.