We were brutalised into admitting involvement in robbery- accused

Cape Coast, July 24, GNA - Emmanuel Oduro and Kwesi Fosu who are together with Armah Schandorf, an ex-police constable and three others are standing trial at a Cape Coast high court for conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, on Thursday told the court that their caution statements under duress, and were threatened by the investigator to sign them.

Oduro, Fosu, Schandorf, Samuel Ghartey and Daniel Owusu, have all pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery whilst Kwadwo Addai, has pleaded guilty with explanation to the first count and guilty to the second.

The cashier of the Anomabu beach resort, Mr. Matthew Mensah was killed during the robbery.

They made the allegations during a mini-trial to enable the court to determine whether to allow the tendering of the statements in court, following submissions from their counsel that they had been taken under duress.

Led by his counsel, Mr. Gustav Addington, Oduro told the court that he was brutalised by the police who forced him to give his statement and was threatened by the investigator to sign, or "receive more beatings", after he had protested.

Fosu, who was led by his counsel, Mr. Harry Hayford, said he was beaten severely by the police each time he denied knowledge of the crime before his statement was taken, and he was therefore forced to admit that he took part in the robbery.

He also claimed that even though an independent witness read and interpreted the statement to him in Twi, "it was not clear. Earlier, Mr. Abubakar Atta, the independent witness, who was said to be present when the accused's statements were taken, and the investigator handling the case, Detective Inspector Ebenezer Peprah, had testified that the statements of the two, were made on their own volition.

They said the statements of the two men, were taken on May 5 and 7 and according to Mr. Atta, it was always done in his presence. During cross-examination by counsel, Mr. Atta had denied that he was in the pay of the police and had not been present when the statements were taken.

During cross examination, Mr. Peprah denied that the accused persons had been brutalised before their statements were taken, while Mr. Atta who said he interpreted the statements in Twi, could not interpret words like 'timber', 'robbery' and 'expert,' which were in the statements, when he was asked to do so.

Hearing continues on Friday July 25.