Six remanded in custody for robbery

A Half-Assini Magistrate Court has remanded six suspected armed robbers in police custody for robbery.

They are Timothy Ackah, 23, driver's mate, Abdulai Usiff, 23, trader, Kwaw Yankson, 29, trader, Samuel Amanzule, 30, lotto seller, Gilbert Kwasi, 35, unemployed, and George Mensah, 30, bicycle repairer.

Their pleas were not taken.

The court presided over by Mr. Hans Kofi Kpogo ordered the prosecutor to report to him on October 18 to strike out the case since the court has no jurisdiction to try it. The case would be transferred to Sekondi for trial

Kwaw Yankson is on admission at Half-Assini Government Hospital after he fell unconscious during identification parade and faces additional charge of illegally possessing narcotic drugs.

The court discharged Mohammed Aziah, 30, loading boy and Mohammed Camarah, 23, goods courier, following application by the police.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Frank Selby told the court that on September 27 the accused kept surveillance over one Madam Ruth Adjei, having realized that she was carrying huge sums of money till she bordered a Takoradi bound bus around 1930 hours

He said about eight kilometers from Elubo, the robbers emerged from the bush and fired at the left-front tyre of the bus.

According to the prosecutor the driver of the vehicle, Michael Ackah, was seriously injured and the robbers robbed 14 passengers.

They took away GH¢452, 000, mobile phones, traveling document, 1,800.00 CFA France and fled into the bush when they saw the police highway patrol team approaching.

The prosecutor said after police investigations, the accused were arrested and a search at their hideouts revealed a large sized industrial cutter, a locally manufactured pistol, two double edged sharp kitchen knives, two empty "BB"shells, 8"BB" live cartridges and dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.