Court remands armed robber

A 23 year-old man, Kojo Owusu , has been remanded into prison custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Court, for allegedly robbing his employer of cash of 40,000 Ghana cedis, fifty pounds of gold, four mobile phones, one digital camera, a medicated glasses, drivers license and a bunch of keys at Prestea in the Western Region.

He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on November 7.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainant, Louis Kwame Amoah, is a small-scale miner.

He said the accused is an employee of the complainant and both lived in the same vicinity at Prestea.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the second, third and fourth accused whose names were given as Bala, Mustapha and Poppy are fitting mechanic and illegal miners respectively at Kumasi in the Asante Region.

He said around 1730 hours on October 20 this year, Owusu asked permission from the complainant to visit his sick child in Kumasi.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said at about 0130 hours on October 23, the first accused returned to Prestea in the company of Bala, Mustapha and Poppy without the knowledge of the complainant.

He said Owusu led his accomplices who were wearing mask and were armed with pistol, machete and axe entered the complainant’s room through a bathroom window while he and his wife were asleep.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the complainant woke up while the accused persons were in the room and when he attempted to confront them they subjected him to severe beating, and he sustained injuries.

He said Owusu, Bala, Mustapha and Poppy bolted with the items leaving two bags, a machete and axe.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said when a search was conducted in the bag by the police an HTC mobile phone belonging to Owusu was found in it.

He said Owusu was arrested at Aboabo, a suburb of Kumasi, on October 25 and he was handed over to the police at Prestea.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said when the first accused person was interrogated at the police station, he said they stole 21,600 Ghana cedis and not 40,000 Ghana cedis as alleged by the complainant. He said that Owusu also denied having stolen gold from the complainant.