We didn't assault businessman - Cop

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 (Page 3 Lead)

THE policeman who is alleged to have led a gang of policemen and civilians to rob a businessman has denied assaulting the businessman.
Thomas Adu, a Chief Inspector, told the court that it was rather one of the accused persons, Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong, and a soldier, who assaulted the businessman, Mr Kwaku Duah.
Acheampong and the said soldier, whose name has not been provided to the Circuit Court hearing the case, are currently on the run.
Adu is 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.
Adu and the other accused persons have been accused of playing various roles in the attack and robbery of the businessman, Mr Kwaku Duah.
Chief Inspector Adu, Sergeant Agyapong, Corporal Quansah, Lance Corporal Muntari, Constable Blejumah, Amanor, Tawiah, Gyasi and Ampofo are charged with conspiracy and robbery.
DSP Kwapong has been charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing.
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.
According to Adu, who spoke through an interpreter, he was sent by his superior officer, DSP Kwapong, to check on an alleged illegal business at the hotel and not to assault the businessman, Mr Kwaku Duah, as was suggested by the Chief State Attorney.
Answering questions under cross-examination from a Chief State Attorney, Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Adu said Mr Duah had explained that he (Mr Duah) had a bleeding nose as a result of jumping through a window at the hotel.
He also denied removing an envelope containing money from Mr Duah’s pocket and further explained that he rather gave Mr Duah a handkerchief to wipe off blood that was oozing from his (Mr Duah’s) nose.
Adu also denied uttering romantic words to a lover after assaulting Mr Duah, adding that he did not act with the others to commit crime.
Answering questions under cross-examination from counsel for Kwapong, Mr Ellis Owusu Fordjour, the accused person told the court that it was lawful to obey a command from a superior officer.
Adu told the court during cross-examination from counsel for Blejumah, Mr Dela Blagogee, that he did not see Blejumah when he took Mr Duah to the Tesano Police Depot on the instructions of Kwapong.
The accused person also told the court that he had not met Tawiah, Gyasi and Ampofo, prior to the incident.
Answering questions under cross-examination from Mr Geoffrey Osafo-Osei, counsel for Tawiah, Gyasi and Ampofo, the accused person said the three were not present at the hotel when Mr Duah was assaulted and robbed.
When Quansah asked Adu why he (Adu) asked him (Quansah) to sit in Jeffrey’s car from the hotel to Tesano Police Depot instead of the Mercedes Benz they had all arrived in at the hotel, Adu explained that it was because he (Adu) did not know Jeffrey who had claimed to be an informant for DSP Kwapong.