Armed Robber Escapes From Courtroom

THERE was drama at Techiman Circuit Court last Tuesday when one out of three armed robbers standing trial, Ibrahim Issaku 22 years, alias Labadi, escaped from the Court room leaving behind his handcuffs.

The other two suspects are Alhassan Banda, alias 2pac, and Abena Ampoma, 22 years. The incident brought proceedings at the law Court to a standstill for some few minutes.

Following the drama, the presiding judge Justice Kwasi Kumah who had earlier granted Abena Pomaa bail, later rescinded his decision and remanded her alongside Alhassan Banda to reappear on 31st May, 2007.

Speaking to The Sun, Chief Inspector S.Y. Jebuni described the incident as very ridiculous and gave out the assurance that, the Police would not hesitate to hunt for the suspect and called on the general public to help trace his whereabouts. According to Chief Inspector Jebuni who is the prosecutor, the absconded armed robber used a sharp pin to loosen the handcuff and quietly left the Court room without the knowledge of the escort who was sitting behind him.

When the story was aired on a local FM station, callers castigated the Police for allegedly taking bribe from the family of the armed robber, and facilitating his escape. One caller, Mr. Ofosu Mensah said, he has information that the Police collected one hundred million Cedis from a family member of the armed robber and planned the escape with the robber.

Several other callers decried the attitude of the Police in handling armed robbery cases in the municipality, and called on the IGP to institute a probe into the escape of the armed robber.

It would be recalled that a couple of months ago, some armed robbers attacked a mobile shop owned by Madam Vida Obeng Kwaa, on December 23rd 2007 and made away with mobile phones and units worth several millions of Cedis. One of the robbers was traced to Wenchi where some of the phones and units were ceased. Four of the seven arrested robbers were later acquitted and discharged at the Court, whiles the remaining three were committed to stand trial.