Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Source: Daily Guide

Chief arrested for robbery

Four persons including a 55-year-old man said to be chief of Akim Asuboa, in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region, have been arrested for robbery.

Nana Kwasi Addo, also known as Samuel Addo, was nabbed after the three others named him as their source of supply of the gun which they used in attacking a pharmacy shop at Sakaman on July 6, 2013.

The others were Dennis Nana Poku, 24, Joseph Ewudzi, 23, a taxi driver, and George Dodoo, 37.

George has since been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court while the rest have been remanded into police custody to reappear on July 23, 2013.

Narrating their arrest to the media, Chief Superintendent Kwadwo Antwi Tabi, the Dansoman Divisional Police commander, said on July 6, 2013, around 9:30pm, three young men, wielding a foreign pistol, attacked a pharmacy shop at Sakaman near Mallam junction.

Before the robbery, the suspects took two attendants on duty hostage, locked them up in their store room and ransacked the place before taking away their daily sales of GH¢730.00.

In an attempt to escape with a hired taxi, however, the attendants managed to free themselves and raised the alarm for assistance.

Some traders and customers who were around the area descended on the three, but suspects Dennis and Joseph managed to escape.

Suspect George was nabbed by the mob and nearly lynched.

Police Patrol Team in the area was called to the scene. They managed to rescue George from the hands of the irate mob and transported him to the police station for questioning.

Suspect George later led police to arrest Dennis and Joseph at Sakaman and Odorkor respectively.

The pistol used was also discovered in the room of suspect Dennis.

chiefWhen questioned on how they came by the foreign pistol, the suspects mentioned Nana Kwasi Addo as their source of supply.

They claimed that the gun was bought from him on the day of the operation at a cost of GH¢700.00. Nana Kwasi Addo was grabbed at Akim Oda on July 14, 2013, and transported to Accra.

He has since declined to speak to the police or give out his statement, insisting not to talk until his lawyer was present.

However, when the three appeared before an Accra Circuit Court last Monday, Joseph and Dennis pleaded not guilty and were remanded to reappear on July 23, while George Dodoo pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.

Nana Kwasi Addo has been charged for abetment of crime and possession of fire arms without authority and would be sent to court soon.

Chief Superintendent Tabi reminded the public to assist the police with information to curb crime within Dansoman.