Fulani herdsman remanded for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday remanded Umaru Berko, a Fulani herdsman, into prison custody for conspiracy to commit crime and robbery. The accused pleaded not guilty and would re-appear in court on July 22.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Amega told the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri that the complainants in the case were passengers on-board a metro mass transit bus.

He said on December 5, 2013, the bus with registration number GT1147 Z loaded with passengers and their wares from Akye Amanfrom to Nkawkaw came under a robbery attack at the outskirt of Asikesu near Maame Krobo junction.

He said the robbers, numbering about six with some wearing face masks, wielding AK 47 assault rifle, metal bars and other implements, robbed the passengers of items such as mobile phones, monies and other valuables.

The prosecution said information got to Akye Amanfrom police, who quickly moved to the scene but the robbers had escaped to the bush amidst firing of gunshots. He said the passengers said they could identify some of the robbers.

He said on June 10, the accused person was arrested by the police patrol team at Akye Amanfrom based on intelligence from an informant. On June 20, three of the victims identified the accused person in an identification parade as one of the robbers, who attacked and robbed them on the said date.