Four suspected robbers plead for clemency

Accra, Jan. 14, GNA - Four suspected robbers on Thursday pleaded with Ghanaians, including victims and relations of the late Pastor Nii Addy, who they shot and killed during the yuletide, to forgive them. Yaw Asamaoh, a trader, Kofi Yeboah a barber, Ebo Kwabena and Osei Prempeh, both masons made the confession before a circuit court in Accra on three separate robbery cases.

They are facing charges of conspiracy, robbery and causing unlawful harm. The court did not take their pleas but remanded them into police custody to re-appear on January 22. Before they were whisked away, the accused persons admitted having offended God and the complainants.

They pleaded with the trial Judge Mrs. Patience Mills Tetteh to punish them because they had offended God by killing Pastor Nii Addy of Lighthouse Chapel International at Gbawe.

Yeboah, a 30-year-old barber, who began the confession, said they were prepared to die for the offence they had committed. Joined by the three other accused persons they contended that they would not like to waste the court's time for the long trial. Police Inspector Anthony Afesti told the court that on November 29, 2009 at about 0500 hours, the accused persons went to an uncompleted house at Donkunaa, near Weija and robbed Mr. Eric Agrrey-Carthy, a banker and his family at gun point.

Prosecution said the accused persons made away with Mr. Aggrey-Carthy's pump action gun, a laptop, some mobile phones, a box full of cartridges and GH¢70.

Insp. Afesti said on December 30, 2009 the accused persons attacked residents of Gbawe and during their expedition, robbed and killed Pastor Nii Addy and bolted.

Prosecution said on January 6, this year, following a tip off, the accused persons were arrested and Mr. Aggrey-Carthey's pump action gun was retrieved while they were preparing to rob another person. Insp Afetsi told the court that the accused persons on November 12, last year assaulted and robbed Kwadjo Antwi, a 31-year-old auto-mechanic and members of his family, of a laptop, four mobile phones, detector machine and GH¢160.

On 29 November, last year, they armed themselves with a pistol, pump action gun and clubs and broke into the house of Mr. Martin Adjei, an employee of the Electricity Company of Ghana, and made away with personal belongings, four mobile phones and GH¢1,700. During the process, they shot one Michael Agbeley in the leg and bolted.