Police officer opens defence - in trial of 12 for robbery

Thursday, June 25, 2009 (Page 47)

DEPUTY Superintendent of Police, Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Response Unit of the Ghana Police Service, who is standing trial with 12 others for allegedly attacking and robbing a businessman on February 2, 2009, has opened his defence at the Accra Circuit Court.
DSP Kwapong has been charged with one count of conspiracy, while Chief Inspector Thomas Adu, Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari, Constable Benjamin Blejumah, Aams Amanor, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi, a.ka. Kwame Tawiah, and Bismark Ampofo are charged with conspiracy and robbery.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong, Jeffrey Kwame Attah, a.k.a Kay and three others, whose names have not been provided are on the run.
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 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.
Led by his counsel, Mr Ellis Owusu Fordjour, to give his evidence-in-chief, DSP Kwapong told the court that he had information that the businessman, Mr Kwaku Duah, was illegally dealing in gold and narcotic drugs.
He said he passed the information on Chief Inspector Adu to follow up on it, because he (DSP Kwapong) was on official duty that day.
According to him, the information that Mr Duah was illegally dealing in narcotics and gold later turned out to be false.
He mentioned Jeffrey as the one who gave him information that Mr Duah was dealing in gold and drugs.
According to DSP Kwapong, Adu called him later and informed him (DSP Kwapong) that he (Adu) had located the hotel where Mr Duah lodged.
He said he enquired whether or not the alleged gold and narcotic drugs were found on Mr Duah, to which Adu said no.
The accused person stated that he, however, asked Adu to bring Mr Duah to the Officers Mess at the Tesano Police Depot, adding that Adu obliged and showed up with Mr Duah, Agyapong, Quansah and Jeffrey.
According to DSP Kwapong, Mr Duah told him (DSP Kwapong) that he was in the country to purchase gold, but Jeffrey insisted that was false and, for that reason, Mr Duah must be locked up and questioned.
He said he decided not to lock him up because Mr Duah did not carry drugs.
Answering questions under cross-examination from Ms Cynthia Lamptey, a Chief State Attorney, the accused person denied that he connived with the others to deprive Mr Duah of his money.
He also denied that he communicated with the other accused persons, adding that it was only Adu with whom he communicated and so there was no physical meeting between him and the other accused persons anywhere.
He also stated that he neither threatened nor demanded money from Mr Duah.
Hearing continues on Thursday, June 25, 2009.