Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Source: GNA

Carpenter arrested with AK47 Rifle's case adjourned

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Trial of Anthony Agbozo, a carpenter accused of stealing an AK 47 rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition belonging to the Ghana Police Service, was on Monday adjourned to December 23.

Agbozo’s case was adjourned because the prosecution was unable to produce its witness.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka, therefore, prayed for a date to enable them produce their witness.

Charged with three counts of possessing firearm without lawful authority, stealing, and causing unlawful damage Agbozo has pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

The court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, remanded him into lawful custody.

On December 4, this year Police Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka, said on June 25, at about 1800 hours, Lance Corporal Joseph Manu, a policeman at Amasaman came to the charge office and booked for an AK 47 rifle number 5910 and 10 rounds of ammunition for guard duty at the Pobiman toll booth.

Chief Superintendent Tuaruka said at about 2200 hours on the same day, L/Cpl Manu returned with the rifle to his rented quarters at Pokuase where he resides to see whether his wife who travelled the previous day had returned.

In the house, the prosecution said, the policeman did not see his wife, and so he put the rifle in his room and slept on his bed.

While asleep, the prosecution said, Agbozo sneaked into L/Cpl Manu’s room and stole the rifle loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition.

The prosecution said on November 30, this year, at about 0900 hours, a witness saw the accused person hiding the rifle under a kiosk and he raised an alarm.

Agbozo was arrested and handed over to the police at Pokuase together with the loaded rifle.

The prosecution said it was realized that the accused person had muzzled the butt of the gun.

An inventory of rifles revealed that out of the 10 rounds of ammunition stolen with the gun, two were missing, and six of the remaining eight rounds were those stolen from L/Cpl Manu.