Dismissed Police Officer, others in multiple robbery cases denied bail

Two Circuit Courts in Koforidua have dismissed bail application brought before it by defence Counsels for a dismissed Police Officer and two others facing prosecution over their involvement in multiple robbery cases.

The defence Counsels prayed the Court to grant bail to the accused persons on grounds that they were sick; needed medical attention and that their offences are bail-able.

However, the Presiding Judges of Koforidua Circuit Court “A” and “B” both refused the bail applications in separate sittings on September 9 and 11,2019. The accused currently on Prison remand are expected to reappear before the courts on September 17 and 25, 2019 respectively.

The accused persons, Eric Adzei Alias Kumah, 48, the dismissed Police Officer, Samuel Appiah, 34, a farmer and Mutakilu Sadiq, 41, a driver are facing trial in multiple robbery cases committed under the guise of carrying out lawful security duties in parts of Eastern region.

Background of the cases

At the Circuit Court” A”, the Prosecutor Chief Inspector Owusu Ababio told the court that, the complainant in the case is Oliver Oteng, a 32-year-old student of the University of Education, Winneba who resides at Koforidua Highways.

He said on July 26, 2019, at about 11:00 am the complainant went to withdraw money at the Koforidua branch of Ghana Commercial Bank and while in a taxi to the house on reaching Pentecost Preparatory School junction at Old Estate the accused persons - one wearing a Police uniform with one other wearing a Military uniform with two other accomplices in civilian dress on board a private car stopped the taxi and violently arrested the complainant into their car and sped off towards the Koforidua to Tafo road, assaulted and threatened to kill him should he attempt to raise alarm.

The Prosecutor said, on reaching a section of the Asiakwa road, the accused persons robbed the complainant off his GHC7,150, a Samsung mobile phone valued GHC850, and one Techno mobile phone valued GHC70 after which they abandoned him in a bush along the road and sped off but a Police patrol team later spotted and rescued the complainant.

He said after their arrest, an identification parade was held on August 23, 2019, where the complainants identified the accused persons.

Circuit Court “B”

At the Circuit Court ‘A’ the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Owusu Ababio told the Court that, in January this year the accused persons wore Police and Military uniforms, trailed and robbed the complainant, Monyo Frank, a carpenter in broad daylight while returning home after withdrawing GHS8500 from the Koforidua branch of the Upper Manya Krobo Rural Bank.

The Prosecutor said the complainant who was onboard a tricycle known as ‘Pragya’ with other passengers was attacked by the accused persons who crossed them at Anlo-Town stretch of the road ‘ with their Toyota Corolla Saloon car, pulled him out under the pretence that he was under arrest.

They handcuffed and pushed him into their car and sped off to the Oyoko -Jumapo road where they assaulted and threatened to kill him should he attempt to shout for help. The accused then robbed the victim of his GHC8,500 he withdrew from the bank and also took away GHC1,300 from his pocket as well as his Samsung and Techno Mobile Phones worth GHC410 in total and subsequently ejected him from the car and absconded.