Alleged kidnappers to be tried at Fast Track High Court

Accra, Sept. 2, GNA - Trial of 11 persons, including five soldiers, who allegedly kidnapped Mr Albert Mmegwa, Managing Director (MD) of Intercontinental Bank and his driver, Mr Richard Makumator, would take place at the Fast Track High Court in Accra. This was disclosed by Mr Anthony Boakye, an Attorney with the Attorney Generals' Department when he appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday.

All the 11 have all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and kidnapping before the Circuit Court presided over by Mr. D.E.K. Daksetey. The accused include George Agyei, a labourer, Samuel Eklou, a student, Foster Senoo, a taxi driver, Moses Ayuoba, a trader, and Abdullai Mohammed Takai, an Information and Technology Consultant. The rest are Henry Adu Yeboah, Patrick Akeleyire, Andrews Dokyi, Godwin Avege and Thomas Obeng Agyei, all Lance Corporals in the Ghana Army. An accomplice, whose name was given as Alhassan, is said to be at large.

Following the announcement by the Attorney that the trial was to take place at the Fast Track High Court, the court discharged the 11 persons.

The accused who were however re-arrested would be put before the Fast Track High on September 9. Despite the numerous applications for bai l put in by their lawyers the court turned down the bail application. The case of the prosecution was that after 2000 hours on April 6, Mr. Mmegwa and his driver closed from work and were heading towards Trassaco Valley Estate in Accra. A few minutes before reaching his house, Eklou and Alhassan, now at large, together with the five soldiers, stopped the victim's Range Rover in the middle of the road and ordered the driver to alight and open the boot of the vehicle.

The driver complied but he was asked to join Mr Mmegwa in the back seat.

The military men then showed the MD a letter suggesting that he was wanted at the Military Headquarters. After blindfolding them, Avege, drove the victims in their car. Senoo and Ayouba drove in a taxi ahead of the victims and took them to a house at East Legon where George Agyei, the caretaker, opened the gate for them to enter.

The victims were kept in two separate dark rooms after tying their hands and legs to chairs on which they sat and were not offered any food. The five soldiers then drove the MD's car to Madina in Accra and abandoned it. Moses Ayouba, the alleged ring leader, used Mr Mmegwa's mobile phone to make a series of calls to bank officials and demanded money before releasing the victims. On April 8, Ayouba called Mr Mmegwa's secretary to meet him with a parcel containing 100,000 dollars around Fiesta Royal Hotel, North Dzorwulu, in Accra. Eklou approached the Secretary in her car and collected the 100,000 dollars on the instructions of Ayouba. After collecting the money, Ayouba purchased a Toyota Corolla vehicle for Foster Senoo.

The car was used in conveying the victims to a bush around Legon in Accra where they were abandoned. A week later Ayouba met Henry Adu Yeboah at the Trade Fair and offered him 4,000 dollars as their share of the booty. 2 Sept. 09