Security man remanded for robbing a warehouse

Gad Azangodo, 43, who is accused of leading five people to rob his former employer of air conditioners valued GH?45,000.00 at Klagon in Accra, on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Azangodo, a security man, and five of his accomplices armed with AK 47rifle and five cutlasses, were said to have butchered Felix Osei, a guard who was on duty, tied and dragged him to the Unicorn Credit Warehouse at Klagon, near Accra Tema Motorway.

Charged with conspiracy to rob, causing harm and robbery, Azangodo pleaded not guilty.

Azangodo through his counsel has denied that he (Azangodo) and five others had gone to Unicorn Credit Warehouse to rob because the company owed him and that they were robbing the company to defray his debt.

The Court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh remanded Azangodo after declining to an application for bail put in by his lawyer and asked the accused person to reappear on August 24 for the trial to commence.

The trial judge ordered the Police to ensure that they should conclude investigations for the trial to commence.

Earlier Azangodo’s Counsel prayed the Court to admit him to bail adding on the day of incident, his client was in the house.

According to counsel, the facts of the case do not support the charges and contended that although granting of bail was based on the court’s discretion, the court should exercise that discretion by admitting him to bail.

Counsel said his client had people of substance to stand as surety and Azangodo would be available to stand trial.

Chief Inspector E. Afful, the prosecutor, declined to bail noting that the charges and facts were clear.

“My Lord we know why we are in Court. The offence committed were non bailable,” he added.

Police Chief Inspector Afful said the investigation have not been completed and prayed the accused person be remanded.

Narrating the facts, Chief inspector Afful said Nii Noi Nortey is the Marketing Manager of Unicorn Credit at Klagon and Azangodo, currently unemployed resides at Ashiaman.

He said on August 6, at about 0100 hrs, six armed men with an AK47 rifle and five cutlasses attacked two night guards at the warehouse and leaving their colleague Osei, who was sleeping in their rest room.

Osei, according to prosecution, later came out and struggled with the armed men but they managed to overpower him and butchered him with their cutlasses leading to various degrees of injuries.

Chief Inspector Afful said the robbers who were not satisfied with their action, tied Osei up and dragged him to the warehouse’s main gate and abandoned him.

Prosecution said the robbers also broke into a two 40 footer containers in the warehouse with a cutter and made away with 10 pieces of GNA Air conditioners.

The prosecutor said Osei was rushed to the Police Hospital by the Police Patrol Team and while on admission at the Hospital, prosecution said Osei gave statement to the Police saying one of the robbers was in their security uniform.

According to prosecution, Osei said one of the robbers told him the company owes him and that he was stealing to defray his debt.

On August 12 an identification was held at the Community 18 Police Charge office and Osei identified Azangodo as one of the robbers who attacked him by inflicting on him cutlass wounds on his wrist and head.

Accused person was arrested but in his caution statement, he denied the offence.