Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Source: GNA

Ex-con armed robber spares prison officer's life

Dambai, March 10, GNA - Mr Isaac Kumah, a Prison Officer stationed in Cape Coast, had a

new lease of life on Tuesday when a "Good Samaritan" of an armed robber intervened to

save him from being shot by a fellow robber. The bunch of highway robbers had stopped the vehicle on which he was travelling on the

road between Dormabin and Tokoranu in the Krachi-East District of the Volta Region. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kumah narrated that as one of the robbers was

about to shoot him, another one snatched the pistol, alleging that he (Kumah) once

showed him kindness at Sunyani prison and, therefore, asked his colleague to spare his

life. He said the robbers numbering about six, and mostly of Fulani extraction, however,

stripped him of his uniform, boots, money and other documents. Mr Kumah appealed to transport unions to facilitate the early departure of long distance

vehicles to prevent them from night travel and the likelihood of having them fall into the

hands of highway robbers. Mr Wilson Kludze, Krachi-East District Police Commander, who confirmed the story, told

the Ghana News Agency that the armed robbers took to the bush when a police patrol

team arrived at the scene. He added that three women who were earlier feared to have been abducted by the gang,

had also been found. He explained that the women were said to have been abducted when the other

passengers did not find them after the robbers had run away. Shortly afterwards, however, the women emerged from the forest where they had taken

refuge, the Commanded stated.