Five persons were on Friday arraigned at an Accra circuit court for conspiracy to commit crime, attempt to commit crime, abetment of crime and possession of firearms. The five, Bright Agbesi, secretary, Pastor Joseph Tommy, Bright Sammy, unemployed, Kweku Ayimbila, driver and Abubakar Sadiq, herdsman, all pleaded not guilty to all charges and were granted bail in the sum of GH¢15,000.00 with three sureties each, two must be public servants. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Adu told the court that the complainant is the Managing Director of Bhagya Laxmi Impex Limited.

He said on June 28, at about 1000 hours, Bright contacted Joseph to get him men to rob the complainant who dealt in precious metals, and that Joseph, thereafter, left for Kumasi to arrange for men as well as weapons for the work.

He said in Kumasi, Joseph contacted a witness in the case to assist him rob the complainant, but the witness immediately informed the police in Kumasi and they later alerted the police in Accra.

The prosecution said on June 29, Joseph again contacted Kweku to assist him to get a weapon to rob somebody in Accra. Kweku also contacted Abubakar and asked him to get him a weapon to be used for robbery, and he immediately released his foreign pistol as well as a locally manufactured pistol to him.

He said, armed with the weapons, Joseph and Kweku immediately proceeded to Accra and contacted Bright who, in turn, ordered Sammy to show them the house of the complainant. Joseph, Sammy and Kweku, armed with the pistols, entered the house at about 1900 hours but realised there were so many people in the house and, for fear of their lives, went back.

Police Chief Inspector Adu said Joseph collected the weapons and kept them, and later planned to arrange another group to do the job. He said on June 30, at about 1000 hours, Joseph arranged another group, including a witness in the case from Kumasi and came to Accra. At exactly 1700 hours, Joseph called Sammy to come and lead them to the house of the complainant.

He said Sammy quickly came and met Joseph at the bus terminal at Tesano and handed over a travelling bag containing the weapons to Sammy. He told the court that policemen who were alert at the scene arrested them and when the bag was searched, two pistols including a locally manufactured gun and four ammunitions and pellets were found.

He said Joseph called Bright that he should come for his share of the booty and he immediately arrived and was arrested. Kweku and Abubakar were also called the next day to come for their share after which they were also arrested.