Three robbers remanded for allegedly robbing EU official

Kuntanase (Ash), Jan 18, GNA- The Kuntanase magistrate court on Monday remanded into prison custody two Nigerian nationals and a Ghanaian for allegedly robbing an Italian expatriate of various sums of monies in different currencies and other valuables in his hotel room. The three, David Baaki and James Simon, both Nigerians and Musah Banda, their Ghanaian accomplice, would re-appear before the court on January 22.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edward Osei, told the court presided over by Mr Ernest Kwasi Adjano, that Maurizio Travella, the complainant, is an Italian expatriate in-charge of European Union (EU) projects in the Northern region.
He said on January 14 this year, Maurizio, who was on his way to Accra made a stopover in Kumasi and lodged at the Royal Park hotel at Adiebeba.
He said Travella later went to the hotel's restaurant to eat and the accused persons allegedly took advantage of his absence and entered his room and stole his personal belongings and cash.
Chief inspector Osei said the robbers made away with 23 million cedis, 323 US dollars and 2,375 pounds sterling, in addition to his driving license, a camera and an identity card. The prosecution said Maurizio on noticing the theft on his return from the restaurant also found out to his amazement that the door had not been tampered with.
Chief Inspector Osei said the complainant then reported the theft to the Hotel Manager who immediately suspected the accused persons whom he had spotted at the hotel moments earlier as they were regular customers at the hotel.
The manager then alerted his driver to look for the three and later saw Banda at the Neoplan Station buying a ticket to board a bus to Accra.
He said the driver then quickly informed the Asokwa police who rushed to the Neoplan lorry terminal to arrest the suspect who later led the police to the Abidjan Hotel in Kumasi where the two others were arrested.
Upon a search, the police retrieved the cash of which they have spent two million cedis and all the items stolen. 18 Jan 07

Kuntanase (Ash), Jan 18, GNA- The Kuntanase magistrate court on Monday remanded into prison custody two Nigerian nationals and a Ghanaian for allegedly robbing an Italian expatriate of various sums of monies in different currencies and other valuables in his hotel room. The three, David Baaki and James Simon, both Nigerians and Musah Banda, their Ghanaian accomplice, would re-appear before the court on January 22.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edward Osei, told the court presided over by Mr Ernest Kwasi Adjano, that Maurizio Travella, the complainant, is an Italian expatriate in-charge of European Union (EU) projects in the Northern region.
He said on January 14 this year, Maurizio, who was on his way to Accra made a stopover in Kumasi and lodged at the Royal Park hotel at Adiebeba.
He said Travella later went to the hotel's restaurant to eat and the accused persons allegedly took advantage of his absence and entered his room and stole his personal belongings and cash.
Chief inspector Osei said the robbers made away with 23 million cedis, 323 US dollars and 2,375 pounds sterling, in addition to his driving license, a camera and an identity card. The prosecution said Maurizio on noticing the theft on his return from the restaurant also found out to his amazement that the door had not been tampered with.
Chief Inspector Osei said the complainant then reported the theft to the Hotel Manager who immediately suspected the accused persons whom he had spotted at the hotel moments earlier as they were regular customers at the hotel.
The manager then alerted his driver to look for the three and later saw Banda at the Neoplan Station buying a ticket to board a bus to Accra.
He said the driver then quickly informed the Asokwa police who rushed to the Neoplan lorry terminal to arrest the suspect who later led the police to the Abidjan Hotel in Kumasi where the two others were arrested.
Upon a search, the police retrieved the cash of which they have spent two million cedis and all the items stolen. 18 Jan 07