Witness: My evidence is consistent and true

Accra, May 21, GNA - The Manager of Relax Court Hotel, Mr George Kojo Agbelengo, on Thursday denied that his evidence in the case of alleged robbery by six policemen and five others was inconsistent and untrue.

Mr. Agbelengo, the second prosecution witness, maintained that he saw Chief Inspector Thomas Adu at the Hotel on February 2, when Mr Kweku Duah, a Ghanaian was allegedly robbed. The witness was answering questions under cross-examination by Mr Kwame Nyankon-Tetteh, counsel for Chief Inspector Adu, when the trial resumed before a Circuit Court in Accra. 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 a re Aams Amanor, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi aka Kwame Tawiah and Bismark Ampofo. They allegedly robbed Mr. Duah of 53,000 dollars, 800 Euros and GH¢2,000 at his room in Relax Court Hotel. DSP Kwapong is facing a charge of conspiracy, while the rest are being tried for conspiracy and robbery. They all pleaded not guilty and have been remanded into custody. Mr Agbelengo said although C/I Adu did not speak to him he was able to make him out because of the active role he played on that fateful day and the dropping of his compulsory letter at one of the two receptions of the hotel. According to him that letter fell when C/I Adu was struggling with the Mr. Duah.

Witness said C/Adu was in a Police uniform but could not tell the court colour of the uniform. Describing the February 2, incident as being in "Hollywood style," he maintained that he saw an envelope being removed from Mr Duah's pocket Defence Counsel: I put it to you that you could not recall the size of the envelope because you never saw anyone remove it from Mr Duah's pocket? Witness: I saw the envelope being removed from Mr Duah's pocket. Defence: Tell the court what Mr Duah was wearing on the day of the incident? Witness: He was in jeans but I cannot tell whether or not he was in shirt or a lacose. Defence: Have you ever set eyes on C/I Adu after the incident? Witness: I saw him at the Greater Accra Regional Police Deputy Commander's office. Defence: Did you meet Mr Duah anywhere in the night after this incident? Witness: No. Mr. Agbelengo denied that he had called Mr Duah after he had left for Switzerland. Answering questions by Mr Shabihu Mohammed, counsel for Corporal Muntari, witness said he could not tell the car that brought Muntari to the hotel, adding he saw him in police uniform at the hotel premises. When it got to the turn of Mr. Ekow Korsdah, counsel for Lance Corporal (L/C) Dennis Quansah, witness said when Mr Duah's room's was broken into by the Police he saw two other civilians come out of the room. Witness said he saw one of them carrying a polythene bag as they emerged from the room. Witness further said that he did not see Benjamin Blejumah at the hotel premises adding, "I did not see any guns". The facts are that Aams Amanor had been known to Mr 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 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 the 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 Blejumah. They broke into Mr Duah's room and Jeffery pulled out a pistol on Mr. Duah who they beat until he started bleeding from the nose. The attackers 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 22.