Trial of six policemen in the Dworwulu robbery case begins

Accra, May 8, GNA - The trial of six policemen and five others allegedly involved in robbing a Ghanaian businessman of 53,000 dollars and other personal belongings in a hotel at Dzorwulu, Accra began today. The accused are Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Kwapong, Chief Inspector Thomas Adu, Sergeant John Adjapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karim Muntari and Constable Benjamin Blejumah. The rest are Aams Amanor, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi aka Kwame Tawiah and Bismark Ampofo. They are being held for conspiracy.

Apart from DSP Kwapong, the rest are facing additional charge of robbery. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been remanded into custody. The businessman, Mr Kweku Duah was first to mount the witness box. Led in evidence by Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Chief State Attorney, Mr Duah said on February 2, this year he was in his hotel room when Amanor brought two men namely one Kwame Tawiah and Jeffery now large, to transact gold business.

During their interaction, the two men asked him to convince them that I was serious about the business. Mr Duah who testified in Twi said he therefore brought out two envelopes, each containing 25,000 United State dollars each in the presence of Amanor. The witness said he received a call from the hotel reception that some Policemen were looking for him. According to the witness, during the transaction Amanor went out and unknowingly locked the door.

"When I held the handle of the door, to go and see the Policemen at the reception, I realized that the door had been locked," Mr Duah said. As I turned, the witness said, Jeffery pointed a gun and ordered him to surrender his money else he would kill him.

"I raised my hands and questioned why I should part with my money. In the process I managed to overpower Jeffery and escaped through the window."

Mr Duah said he managed to request a staff of the hotel to call the Police.

"I however bumped into armed Policemen and a soldier whom I observed did not have any name tag on their uniforms." The witness identified one of the armed Policemen as Chief Inspector (C/I) Adu as one of the armed policemen whom he bumped into. Mr Duah said C/I Adu slapped him and told him that he was lucky that he was at a hotel else he would have shot him.

Witness said the soldier also punched him in the face and he fell while another one whom he cannot identify stamped his head. According to him, Muntari and Blejumah were present when the incident took place.

Mr Duah said because he was handcuffed, C/I Adu and a soldier removed the two envelopes containing 50,000 US dollars from his right and left pockets and pushed him into a waiting Mercedes Benz." He said Adjapong drove the Mercedes Benz while C/I Adu sat in front while he sat in between another Policemen and the soldier. "I received punches which ever way I turned and blood splashed in the car because I could not clean it.

According to the witness, his passport, mobile phone, air ticket, 3,000 dollars and 800 Euros were taken away.

Witness said on their way to the Tesano Police Depot, C/I Adu received a call and he (Adu) told the caller that; "My love tonight I will make you happy because I have received the money."

The facts are that Aams Amanor had been known to the complainant, Mr Kweku Duah, when they were in Switzerland. Sometime last year, Mr Duah told Amanor he wanted to come to Ghana to buy gold and Amanor opted to assist him.

Mr Duah arrived in Ghana on February 1 and checked into Relax Court Hotel at Dworwulu in Accra and got in touch with Amanor who briefed him about the supposed suppliers of the gold.

On February 2 at about 2200 hours, Amanor and Jeffery, now at large, who was armed with a pistol, accompanied by Gyasi, and a Nigerian now at large, went to the hotel room of Mr Duah under the pretext of transacting the gold business. The said business was to take place between the complainant and Jeffery.

Before the meeting, Jeffery and the Nigerian had arranged with Amanor, who had also instructed Chief Inspector Adu, Sergeant Adjapong, Corporal Quansah and a soldier, who is at large, to go to the hotel. When they got to the hotel, they met Lance Corporal Muntari, Constable Acheampong and Constable Blejuamah.

They broke into Mr Duah's room and Jeffery pulled out a pistol on Mr Duah who they beat until he started bleeding in the nose. The attackers later searched Mr Duah and took away two envelopes containing 53,000 dollars, 800 Euros and GH¢2,000. They also ransacked Mr Duah's room and took away a black bag containing two walkman CD players, a digital camera valued at 4,000 dollars; two bunches of keys and a Standard Chartered Bank cheque book. The accused persons arrested the complainant and later abandoned him at Tema. Hearing continues on May 11. 8 May 09