Labourer in court for robbery

Asamankese (E/R), May 5, GNA - A 26-year-old labourer, Yaw Assuman, was on Wednesday remanded by the Asamankese Circuit Court on two counts of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

His plea was not taken and he is to re-appear on June 1. Police Chief Inspector S. A. Ntow told the court, presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowia, that the accused and an accomplice, Paa Fio, who is at large, met the complainant, Mr Kwadwo Kumi, at a diamond mining concession near the Birim River in the Akwatia area on January 27, this year.

He said the two suspects told him that they had diamonds for sale at an area nearby and succeeded in luring Mr Kumi to a nearby bush where they hit him at the back of his head and he fell. According to Chief Inspector Ntow, when he fell, the two then robbed him of seven million cedis cash and three million cedis worth of diamonds.

He said on May 1, Assuman was seen at Oda Nkwanta where he was arrested and handed over to the police.

In a caution statement, the accused admitted the offence and said his accomplice fled when he heard of his arrest.