Driver, auto mechanic remanded for robbery

Accra, July 21, GNA - A circuit court in Accra, on Thursday remanded into prison custody, George Addai Marfo, a driver, and Joseph Idan, aka Abeiku, an auto mechanic, for alleged robbery.

The accused, who were charged with conspiracy to commit crime and robbery, pleaded not guilty and would re-appear at court on July 25, 2011.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Reynolds Agyeman told the court presided over by Mr. Eric Kyei Baffour that the complainant Eric Owusu Appiagyei, a driver of a KIA Pride taxi cab, who resides at Mataheko, a suburb of Accra, lodged a complaint at the Kaneshie Police that his taxi was stolen by armed robbers.

The prosecution said whilst the complainant was driving his taxi, on reaching Flamingo traffic light intersection, Marfo stopped the driver and asked him to convey his mother from Mataheko to Sowutuom in Accra. ASP Agyeman said Marfo boarded the taxi and directed the driver to where he was to pick his mother.

The prosecution sad after moving a short distance, Marfo pointed a knife at the complainant and ordered him to hand over key to the vehicle and the complainant obliged.

ASP Agyeman said Idan, who was armed with a cutlass, emerged from behind a wall, rushed on the driver, pulled him out of the vehicle and collected his weekly sales of GH¢185.00 and sped off with the taxi.

The prosecution said the Kaneshie Police informed other police stations within the Greater Accra Region to assist in the arrest of the accused.

ASP Agyeman said later the police had a tip off that the accused persons had replaced the number plate of the vehicle with a DVLA trial plate with registration number DV 2560-10, and sprayed the yellow portions of the vehicle white colour.

The prosecution said the police arrested the accused persons while in the stolen vehicle heading towards Banana Inn in Accra.

ASP Agyeman said during interrogation the accused persons admitted the crime and claimed that a man called K.K, at large, gave them GH A250.00 to pay for the spraying and fixing of the DVLA trial plate on the vehicle.