Case of alleged police robbers * Life of witness threatened

Saturday, May 23, 2009 (Page 21)

A Chief State Attorney, Ms Cynthia Lamptey, yesterday informed the Accra circuit court that the life of a prosecution witness in the case involving seven policemen and six civilians who are alleged to have robbed a businessman is being threatened.
According to the prosecutor, the witness, Mr George Kojo Agbelengo, had been receiving threatening telephone calls since he began testifying in the case.
Mr Agbelengo, the manager of the hotel where the victim, Mr Kwaku Duah, was assaulted and robbed on February 2, 2009, began testifying on Monday, May 18, 2009 and stated that he was present when Mr Duah was assaulted and robbed.
He specifically identified one of the accused persons, Chief Inspector Thomas Adu, as the person who assaulted and removed an envelope from Mr Duah’s pocket. He also stated that Adu assaulted Mr Duah with three other officers but stated that those officers were not among the accused persons.
Chief Inspector Adu is standing trial with DSP Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Ghana Police Service, Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari, Constable Benjamin Blejumah, Aams Amanor, a civilian friend of Mr Duah, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi, alias Kwame Tawiah, and Bismark Ampofo.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong, Jeffrey Kwame Attah, alias Kay, and three others whose names were not provided are on the run.
DSP Kwapong has been charged with one count of conspiracy, while the other accused persons have been charged with conspiracy and robbery. They have all 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 took 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.
At the court’s sitting in Accra yesterday, Ms Lamptey told the court that Mr Agbelengo, who was expected to continue answering questions under cross-examination, was being threatened through anonymous telephone calls.
The trial judge then advised the witness to have faith in God and not worry about those threats.
Mr Iddrisu said the important thing was for the witness to be truthful and just, adding, “I believe those calls will be tracked.”
Ms Lamptey then moved in and said that might not be possible, but the judge insisted it was possible.
He gave instances when some persons had been arrested and prosecuted for making threatening telephone calls, adding that “the National Communications Authority (NCA) has a way of tracking such calls”.
During cross-examination from counsel for Tawiah, Gyasi and Ampofo, the witness told the court that he did see Tawiah and Ampofo on the day that Duah was assaulted and robbed.
Mr Agbelengo told the court that he saw Gyasi sitting at the hotel’s restaurant with his hands folded and looking towards the hotel driveway but added that he did not see Gyasi partake in the assault and robbery of Mr Duah.
Hearing continues on Thursday, May 28, 2009.