Police officer to open defence today

Friday, June 26, 2009 (Page 3 Lead)

THE police officer who is alleged to have led a gang of police officers and civilians to attack and rob a businessman at a hotel on February 2, 2009 is expected to open his defence at the Accra Circuit Court today.
Chief Inspector Thomas Adu is currently standing trial with Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Response Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari, Constable Benjamin Blejumah, Aams Amanor, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi and Bismark Ampofo for playing various roles in the attack and robbery of the businessman, Mr Kwaku Duah.
DSP Kwapong, who has since opened his defence and completed his evidence-in-chief, is expected to be re-examined by counsel for Aams Amanor who was absent in court yesterday.
He was cross-examined by Amanor but the court decided to give Amanor's counsel the chance to re-examine DSP Kwapong to pave the way for Adu to open his defence and state his side of the story.
DSP Kwapong has been charged with one count of conspiracy, while Chief Inspector Adu, Sergeant Agyapong, Corporal Quansah, Lance Corporal Muntari, Constable Blejumah, Amanor, Tawiah, Gyasi, aka Kwame Tawiah, and Ampofo are charged with conspiracy and robbery.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong, Jeffrey Kwame Attah, aka Kay, and three others whose names have not been provided are on the run.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been refused bail by the court, presided over by Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu.
They were alleged to have robbed Mr Duah, who lives in Europe, at a hotel in Accra and taken away $53,000, €1,000 and GH¢2,000.
They were also alleged to have robbed the victim of a black bag containing two compact disc Walkman players, a set of keys, a digital camera, a cheque book and other items, all valued at $4,000.
Earlier at the court's sitting yesterday, DSP Kwapong told the court during cross-examination from counsel for Adu, Mr Kwame Nyankon-Tetteh, that he had instructed Adu to act upon information that Mr Duah was allegedly dealing illegally in cocaine and gold.
He also stated that he did not know Adu's schedule that day and further indicated that the information he had received on Mr Duah turned out to be otherwise.
Answering questions under cross-examination from counsel for Quansah, Mr Ekow Korsah, the accused person denied that he had instructed Quansah to take pictures of Mr Duah.
He also told the court during cross-examination from Mr Dela Blagodzi, counsel for Blejumah, that he did not see Blejumah at the Tesano Police Depot Officers Mess on February 2, 2009 when Mr Duah was brought before him (DSP Kwapong).
DSP Kwapong told the court during cross-examination from Mr Geoffrey Osafo-Osei, counsel for Tawiah, Gyasi and Ampofo, that the information he had was that the three (Tawiah, Gyasi and Ampofo) were not present at the hotel.
He also told the court during cross-examination from Amanor that he (DSP Kwapong) did not know Amanor before February 2, 2009.