A-G's Dept takes over prosecution

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 (Page 3)

THE Attorney-General’s Department has taken over the prosecution of the case involving the six policemen and their accomplices who are alleged to have robbed a businessman at a hotel in Accra.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr George Abavelim, made this known to the circuit court trying the case at its sitting in Accra yesterday.
An Assistant State Attorney, Mr Paul Abariga, had announced himself earlier as the new prosecutor and left for another court before Mr Abavelim arrived in court.
The court, presided over by Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu, accordingly adjourned the case to April 8, 2009.
Lawyers for the accused persons repeated their application for bail for the accused persons but the court refused.
The accused persons are DSP Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Chief Inspector Thomas Adu, Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari, Constable Benjamin Blejumah and Hans Amanor, a civilian friend of the complainant.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi, alias Kwame Tawiah, Bismark Ampofo, Jeffrey, alias Kay, and three others whose names were not provided are on the run.
The accused have been charged with conspiracy and robbery and they have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
They are alleged to have robbed Mr Kwaku Duah, who lives in Europe, at a hotel in Accra and taken away $53,000, 1,000 euros and GH¢2,000.
They are also alleged to have robbed the victim of a black bag containing two compact disc Walkman players, a set of keys, a digital camera and a Standard Chartered Bank cheque book, all valued at $4,000.
According to the facts of the case, on February 2, 2009, Chief Inspector Adu allegedly led the team of policemen to the hotel at Dzorwulu and robbed Mr Duah of the items and the cash.
In addition, Chief Inspector Adu and his men allegedly assaulted Mr Duah, whom they had framed up with narcotic charges.
Mr Duah, who, for the past 20 years had been living outside the country, returned to Ghana to purchase gold and, having stayed away for that long, he contacted a friend, one Amanor, who is based in Tema, to find somebody who could help him get the gold.
In the evening of Mr Duah’s arrival, Amanor took him to a house in Tema to meet the man who was supposed to be in possession of gold but the man never showed up, after waiting for him for hours.
They, therefore, decided to have him come to Duah’s hotel the following day with the mineral for the transaction to take place.
As agreed, on the following day, February 2, Amanor showed up at the hotel around 10 a.m. with two other persons with a box containing the supposed gold.
The policemen and the other accused persons played various roles in ransacking Mr Duah’s hotel room, taking away the other items.
The police, in addition, allegedly demanded $30,000 from the victim, else they would have his photograph published in the media for dealing in cocaine.
When he pleaded that he did not have the money, Mr Duah was later driven by the police to Tema and dumped at a spot.