Accra, June 21, GNA - Two persons who allegedly broke into a vehicle belonging to a patient of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Clinic at North Kaneshi e and made away with a suitcase containing personnel effects have appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra.

John Malm, a trader and William Kuuku Asilijoe, jointly charged with conspiracy, unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage and stealing have pleaded guilty. However, they denied an additional charge of possessing firearms without lawful authority. Malm and Asilijoe admitted entering the vehicle saying; "My Lord we are guilty because we entered the car and stole the items". They were found with T-shaped metallic implement used in opening car s, a locally manufactured pistol with two cartridges and a number plate allegedly used to outwit security checks.

Following their plea of not guilty to possessing firearm without authority, the court remanded them into prison custody to re-appear on Ju ly 9. It therefore reserved their sentences pending determination of the charge of possessing a locally manufactured pistol without lawful authori ty. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector J.K. Anim told the court that on May 26, this year at about 7:00pm, the Greater Accra Regional Police Comm and received information that some three men on board a VW Golf Three car wit h registration number GE 2445-10 suspected to be armed robbers were roaming at Ashaley Botwe and its environs. He said a team of police personnel from Adenta District Police Headquart ers were quickly dispatched to the area to apprehend the suspects. The police personnel managed to apprehend the accused persons but one of their accomplices known as Marquaye, however, escaped. When the accused persons' car was searched, a travelling bag containing some documents, vehicle number plate GE 1946-10, a T-shaped metallic implement, a locally manufactured pistol with two cartridges were retriev ed. Prosecution said during interrogation, the accused persons claimed ownership of the items and when the police examined them they came across a mobile phone number which they called and Mr Godfred Sam identified himse lf as a driver, working with BoG.

According to Mr Sam, on May 26, this year, in the morning, he packed his 4X4 Mitsubishi Pajero at BoG's Clinic at North Kaneshie. On his return, Mr Sam said he detected that lock to the passenger side o f the vehicle had been opened and his travelling bag containing his persona l effects stolen. Prosecution said investigations at the Driver Vehicle and Licencing Authority (DVLA) indicated that the number plate GE 1946-10 was registere d in the name of Emmanuel Malm, senior brother to John. He said in John's caution statement, he told the Police that he used the licenced number plate GE 2445-10 during robbery operation to outwit secur ity checks.