Court remands five suspects for robbery

Five persons who allegedly robbed several passengers of their monies and mobile phones at Sureso, near Asankrangwa in the Western Region have been arrested and remanded into prison custody by a Tarkwa Circuit Court.

They are Kwesi Acheampong, a 35 year-old farmer, Kwadwo Owusu, unemployed, 18, Kwadwo Dubin a 25 year-old carpenter, Ibrahim Jackson ,37, and Yaw Frimpong 27, all pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy and robbery.

An accomplice Fatawo Fuseini, 21, an illegal miner, who pleaded guilty, was jailed 25 years.

They stole a total of GHc 23,460.00 and eight mobile phones from the passengers.

They would re-appear before the same Court on September 30, for further hearing.

Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah, said on July 1, at about 0430 hours, Fuseini, together with the accused persons, armed with locally-manufactured pistols, single barrel and pump action guns blocked the road at a spot near Sureso on the Asankrangwa-Bawdie road.

They robbed several passengers to the tune of GHc23,460.00 and eight mobile phones.

In the process they shot and killed a 53 year-old driver of the bus, with registration number AW 1999-14, Anthony Oppong, and bolted with their booty.

The police together with some residents of Sureso organized a search party for the robbers resulting in the arrest of Acheampong, Owusu and Dubin at Asankrangwa.

The police retrieved one locally-manufactured single barrel gun and two cutlasses from them.

Later, Fuseini and the rest of the accused persons were found in the bush and exchanged gun shots with the police however; a bullet hit Fuseini on the left thigh leading to his arrest.

The prosecutors said although Ibrahim and Frimpong managed to escape they were later apprehended at Sureso.

The accused persons were identified by some of the victims at an identification parade mounted by the police on July 3, hence their prosecution.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased driver had since been deposited at the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary for autopsy.