Jack Bebli's trial delayed, he has stroke

The committal trial of Alhaji Sheikh Shehu, also known as Regimental Sergeant Major Jack Bebli who is accused of gold robbery valued at one million dollars, could not start yesterday at an Accra Community Tribunal, because he is reported to be sick.

Mr. Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, who disclosed this to the three-member tribunal chaired by Mr. Kwadjo Owusu, said a medical report on Bebli from the Police Hospital indicates that he is suffering from stroke. According to the report signed by Dr A K Benibensu, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Physician Specialist in charge of the hospital, Bebli was transferred from Kumoji Hospital to the Police Hospital on May 25. The report stated that the stroke has paralyzed Bebli on the left half of his body, "with inability to walk and to move the left arm." The tribunal accordingly, adjourned proceedings to July 10. Mr. Gyambiby said the message about the indisposition of Bebli should have been communicated to the Attorney-General's office "to enable us know about his condition, whether he is fit to stand trial or not." Counsel for Bebli, Mr. Chris Ackumey confirmed that Bebli is sick and said he personally visited him "just about 30 minutes ago". "He is in bed, he cannot walk, because he is suffering from stroke."

On May 16, former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Bebli, a 70-year-old retired police officer, was to appear at the tribunal with six others for their alleged involvement in a sensational highway robbery case in which they ambushed a bullion van and stole gold valued at one million dollars. He was absent and the tribunal issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Counsel explained that his client was hospitalized two days before the adjourned date, and therefore it was not a deliberate attempt on his part not to make himself available to the tribunal. In view of this, counsel prayed the tribunal to rescind the bench warrant issued against his client, which the tribunal did. However, the tribunal overruled a submission by counsel to adjourn the case "sine die." The case for the prosecution is that on February 16, last year, Bebli and six others robbed Amansie Resource of six boxes of unrefined gold bars worth 2.4 billion cedis. The six are Philip Asamoah, alias Agingo, Isaac Frimpong, alias Nii Baby Tei, Patrick Boakye Mprah, Corporal James Doli, Augustus Oko Odartey and Kofi Boakye, alias Kofi Bebli.

On that day, the seven accused persons, driving in a Peugeot Estate vehicle and a Nissan Urvan bus, waited at the Yamoransa Junction in the Central Region for the bullion van that was transporting the gold bars. When the bullion van driven by Asamoah passed by, the accused persons, armed with AK 47 rifles and dressed in military uniforms, followed it until they reached Abotsia, near Apam Junction, on the Cape Coast-Accra road. At Abotsia, the Peugeot Estate crossed the convoy, assaulted those in the convoy and fired shots into the bullion van. This scared those in the bullion van, and they all fled as if they knew nothing about the attack. The accused persons entered the bullion van and made away with the gold bars. They also seized two other vehicles belonging to GHACEM and Ashanti Goldfields Company and carried the gold bars in the one driven by Mprah to Accra. They shared the booty and Frimpong, who was fleeing with his share to Abidjan, was arrested at the Elubo border. Upon interrogation, Frimpong mentioned the others as his accomplices, and they were picked up. When he is finally committed, Bebli will join the others at an Accra High Court for trial for their involvement in the crime.