Two suspected robbers held in prison custody

A Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Afia Adu-Amankwaah, has ordered two men said to be members of a robbery gang that raided the Top Oil Filling Station at Sepe-Buokrom and some nearby shops, to be held in prison custody.

Gaddafi Abu-Bakr, 19, and Kingsley Asare, alias “Abodam” 21, together with four others now on the run, reportedly attacked the Filling Station and shops with guns, cutlasses and other deadly weapons on June 9, at about 2200 hours.

The two are facing charges of robbery and causing harm and they pleaded not guilty. They would make their next appearance on July 23.

Police Chief Inspector F. Akowuah told the court that the robbers took advantage of a power outage in the area to strike.

They shot Kwadwo Boateng and John Appiah, the shop operators, in the lower abdomen and the arm, after seizing an unspecified amount of cash and their mobile phones.

Appiah died of his wounds at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where he had been rushed for medical attention.

The prosecution said the Asawase Police Patrol Team heard of the robbery and quickly responded but the robbers fled before the officers arrived.

The police conveyed the victims to KATH for treatment.

He said Abu-Bakr and Asare were later arrested at different locations following police investigations.

He said a search has been mounted to apprehend their fugitive colleagues to bring them to justice.