Kumasi(Ashanti Region) 7 Oct.1998 Three persons have appeared before a Circuit Tribunal in Kumasi charged with robbery.

The three, whose plea was not taken, were remanded in custody to reappear on October 12. They are Kofi Donkor, 18, Osei Kwadwo, 18 and Osei Kofi, 27.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police Lawrence Oppong told the tribunal chaired by Mr R. C. A. Azumah that Mr Mohammed Mumuni, a 31-year-old trader, who lives at Dichemso in Kumasi, gave his Toyota bus number AS 1252 N to one Kwasi Boakye to use for "tro-tro" within the Kumasi metropolis.

He said Boakye after the day's work parked the car in front of his house at Yenyawoso in Kumasi and during the night the three accused persons conspired and used a different ignition key to drive the vehicle away for their operations.

ASP Oppong said they drove the car towards Mampong and on reaching Old Tafo at about 04:30 hours Madam Agartha Adusei, also a trader, signalled them to stop, saying she was going to Amantin in the Brong Ahafo region, so they picked her.

He said on reaching Aboaso, however, Kofi Donkor, who was driving the car, took a detour and pulled up after a distance. Osei Kwadwo drew a pistol and asked Agartha to bring all the money on her.

The prosecutor said Agartha sensing danger handed over an amount of 490,000 cedis to them, but Donkor, who was not satisfied, asked Agartha to spread her cloth on the road for sex.

ASP Oppong said while Agartha was pleading for mercy, they saw the light of an on-coming car and the armed robbers attempted to drive away but they ran into a ditch and abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush.

The prosecutor said Agartha reported the case to the police at Mamponteng and while efforts were being made to arrest them, the three, who had to walk through the bush, were apprehended by some inhabitants of Krobo in the Kwabre district, who suspected them to be criminals.

He said when they were searched, an amount of 187,000 cedis was found on Osei Kofi. GRi