Court remands trader in police custody

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday remanded Philip Abugri, a trader, in police custody for conspiracy to commit crime, attempting to commit crime and three counts of robbery.

The accused person pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on August 25.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Abraham Annor told the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri that the first complainant a food vendor at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, while the second complainant is a business woman based at Navrongo.

He said the third complainant is a trader, also resident at Navrongo, all in the Upper East Region.

The prosecution said the accused person was arrested at Navrongo on suspicion of his involvement in five counts of robbery cases, which he perpetuated on victims in Bolgatanga and Navrongo between December 9, 2013 and June 13, 2014.

DSP Annor said on December 9, 2013 at about, 2200 hours, the first complainant in the company of a friend on a motorbike, was attacked by the accused and his accomplice, armed with guns.

He said they ordered the complainant to surrender her motorbike and her bag, but she refused and the accomplice, who is yet to be identified, fired at her to stop but missed.

“The first complainant then surrendered her bag containing her two mobile phones, a cash amount of GH¢450, documents on the motorbike, a GCB ATM card and passport pictures to the accused person, who then took over the complainant’s motorbike, fired a warning shot and bolted away” he added.

The prosecution said, on January 11, 2014 at about 2030 hours, the second complainant in the company of her daughter, was driving her Vibe Pontiac Saloon car with registration number UE 38-13, to her residence and on reaching a section of the road, the second complainant was intercepted by a masked man, who was later identified to be the accused person.

He said the accused person was wielding an AK 47 rifle, attacked and ordered her to stop by firing a warning shot and when the second complainant stopped, the accused robbed her of one handbag containing two balls of kenkey, one Junior High School 1 textbook and a bunch of keys.

DSP Annor said the accused person, then shot into the car’s radiator to immobilse it, before bolting with the booty.

“The Second complainant on the same day lodged a report with the police for investigations,” he said.

On May 29, 2014 at about 1430 hours, the third complainant alone was returning home from work in her car, on reaching, a spot near her residence, she was attacked by the accused person armed with AK 47, who robbed her of one techno mobile phone, valued at GH¢200 and a cash amount of GH¢500.

He said the accused person, bolted from the scene and left behind, one black hand-glove in the second complainant’s car, which was lodged at the police station.