Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (Page 3 Lead)
THE businessman who was allegedly robbed by six policemen and their accomplices at a hotel in Accra some time ago yesterday identified all the policemen as having played various roles in the robbery.
Mr Kwaku Duah told the circuit court where the six policemen and six civilians are facing trial for allegedly robbing him that the accused persons had threatened to publish that he (Mr Duah) dealt in cocaine if he failed to pay $30,000 to seal their mouths.
He specifically identified DSP Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) and Chief Inspector Thomas Adu as the ones who threatened him to confess to dealing in cocaine.
The witness, who was led by a Chief State Attorney, Ms Cynthia Lamptey, to give his evidence-in-chief that Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari and Constable Benjamin Blejumah were among those who had played various roles in the robbery, resulting in his sustaining severe injuries, as well as losing $53,000, 800 Euros and other valuable items.
Mr Duah particularly identified Adu as the person who severely assaulted him, handcuffed him and in the process took away his (Mr Duah’s) $25,000 on February 2, 2009.
He also alleged that DSP Kwapong authorised Corporal Quansah to take his (Mr Duah's) picture for publication in the media that he (Mr Duah) dealt in cocaine if he (Mr Duah) failed to pay $30,000, adding that Adu had threatened to further assault him (Mr Duah) if he (Mr Duah) did not admit dealing in drugs.
The policemen and Hans Amanor, a civilian friend of Mr Duah’s, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi, alias Kwame Tawiah, and Bismark Ampofo have been charged with conspiracy and robbery and they have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong, Jeffrey Kwame Attah, alias Kay, and three others whose names have not been provided are currently on the run.
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 and a Standard Chartered Bank cheque book, all valued at $4,000.
Mr Duah, who has since finished with his evidence-in-chief, told the court that DSP Kwapong authorised Quansah to record him (Mr Duah) that he (Mr Duah) dealt in drugs, adding that he was forced to oblige to avoid further assault, since he had already suffered in the hands of the accused persons.
He informed the court that Agyapong drove the Mercedes Benz saloon car which took him, after he had been assaulted and robbed, a soldier, Adu and another policeman to the Tesano Police Depot to meet DSP Kwapong.
According to the witness, a soldier who was not in court was also among the security officers who assaulted and robbed him, adding that Jeffrey, who had earlier pulled a gun on him in his (Mr Duah's) hotel room, showed up at the Police Depot with three wrapped parcels which were put on him (Mr Duah) for pictures to be taken.
Jeffrey is currently on the run.
The witness told the court that after undergoing the ordeal at the hands of the accused persons, both at the hotel and at the Tesano Police Depot, he lodged a complaint at the Greater Accra Regional Police Command the following day.
He said a paper which was picked up by the hotel manager and photocopied after the policemen had driven him (Mr Duah) out of the hotel later happened to be Chief Inspector Adu’s compulsory retirement letter.
According to the witness, he took the letter along with him when he went to the Accra Regional Police Command to lodge a complaint and it was there that he showed the paper to Mr Bright Oduro, the Deputy Regional Commander.
He said Mr Oduro called Chief Inspector Adu and DSP Kwapong, who both reported at the police station, adding that Amanor had told the police that he (Amanor) was the cause of Mr Duah's ordeal and for that matter he (Amanor) handed over documents covering his uncompleted building to pay for Mr Duah's loss.
He, however, stated that the moneys and other items were never refunded to him.
Narrating what led to his being assaulted and robbed at the court's sitting on Friday, May 8, 2009, Mr Duah said on arrival from abroad, he contacted Amanor, who happened to be his friend, and said he needed gold to purchase.
He said Amanor brought two men, including Jeffrey, to his hotel for the gold transaction to take place and further explained that he had to bring out two envelops, each containing $25,000, to convince the two men that he was serious in doing business with them.
According to the victim, while the transaction was going on with Jeffrey, Amanor and the other person whose name was not given, he (Mr Duah) received a call from the hotel lobby that some policemen were looking for him.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Duah managed to overpower Jeffrey, who was then wielding a pistol, and escaped through a small window to report the incident to the police, but on his way to the hotel lobby he met armed police officers and a soldier.
He said Adu slapped him, while the soldier punched his face, adding that Adu and the soldier removed the two envelops each containing $25,000, while he (Mr Duah) bled from the nose.
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