How trader, one other stole $50,000, GH¢50,000, iPhone 15, other gadgets from John Kumah's widow

The Accra Circuit Court Two on Friday refused bail to two persons who allegedly stole money, electrical gadgets, and other items from Mr. John Kumah’s widow.

Adams Sanogo, a trader, and Kwame Dunga, who is at large, allegedly conspired to steal $50,000, GH¢50,000, an iPhone 15 Pro Max valued at GH¢15,000 from Reverend Lillian Kumah, widow of Mr. Kumah, former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Ejisu.

They are also believed to have stolen her Apple iPad, valued at GH¢15,000, a Samsung Z Fold mobile phone, valued at GH¢12,000, a Microsoft laptop, valued at GH¢7,000, a black school bag, valued at GH¢400, and an Apple watch, the value of which is unknown.

Rabiu Falilu, a Senior High School (SHS) leaver, is also accused of dishonestly receiving some stolen items.

The accused persons, who were arrested in the Ashanti Region and handed over to the police in Accra, have denied the crime and were remanded into police custody to assist in the investigation and the arrest of one Kwame Dunga, their alleged accomplice, who is on the run.

The court, presided over by Mr. Isaac Addo, declined the grant of bail as prayed by Mr. Benjamin Ofori, the accused persons’ counsel, with the reason that the case is sensitive and would not serve the interest of society.

They will be brought back on August 7, 2024.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Raymond Ackom said Reverend Lillian Kumah, the complainant, was the widow of Mr. Kumah, a resident of Achimota-Mile 7, Accra.

Sanogo is a mobile phone dealer at Adum-PZ and a resident of Kokoso, both suburbs of Kumasi, while Falilu was a resident of Jamasi in the Ashanti Region.

He said on December 29, 2023, an unknown person gained access to the place of abode of Reverend Kumah and stole her personal belongings, including an iPhone 15 Pro Max valued at GH¢15,000, a Samsung Z Fold mobile phone valued at GH¢12,000, an Apple iPad valued at GH₵15,000, a Microsoft laptop valued at GH¢7,000, a black school bag valued at GH¢400, an Apple watch whose value is yet to be known, as well as cash of GH¢50,000 and $50,000.

The prosecution said she made a formal complaint to the police, furnishing them with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video footage of the incident. On July 24, 2024, police investigation led to the arrest of Falilu, who was in possession of the complainant’s iPhone 15 Pro Max at Jamasi in the Ashanti Region, the court was told.

The prosecution said on his arrest, he led the police to Adum PZ, Kumasi, where Sanogo was also arrested. During interrogation, Sanogo admitted selling the phone to Falilu.

He further mentioned Dunga, another mobile phone dealer at Adum PZ, who is currently at large, as his accomplice, the court heard.

The prosecution said Sanogo and Falilu were cautioned, charged for the offence, and put before the court. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to arrest Dunga.

In praying for bail, Mr. Ofori said Sanogo and Falilu had fixed places of abode, were not flight risks, and had people of substance to stand as sureties for them. They had also assisted and were still willing to assist the police in their investigations.

He said Sanogo was a middleman who bought a phone from Kwame, while Falilu was just an SHS leaver who led the police to Sanogo, the one he got the phone from.

The prosecution opposed the bail application and said if the accused persons were released, they would interfere with investigations and would not appear to stand trial, having been on the run since 2023. The police deployed intelligence officers to the Ashanti Region who arrested them only two days ago.