Techiman (B/A), Nov. 6, GNA - A circuit court in Techiman has remanded two suspected armed robbers into prison custody for allegedly inflicting cutlass wounds on a butcher and in the process robbing him of 20 million cedis.

Issah Sanna, 43, a butcher at Mamprusi line and Amadu Seidu, 36, of Wangara line, both in Techiman, pleaded not guilty to two counts of attacking and robbing the 37 year old butcher, Mr Tahiru Gariba, and inflicting multiple cutlass wounds on him.

They were remanded into prison custody to re-appear on November 17. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Erasmus Gyinae referred the robbery case to the Sunyani High Court, saying it was beyond his jurisdiction. Police Chief Inspector Sampson Jebuni, prosecuting, told the court that on October 20 this year at about 2030 hours whilst Gariba was in bed, the two suspects and another person, now at large, called on him. Mr Gariba's wife, Madam Memuna Amadu, who is a witness in the case, said while in another room, she heard the knock at the husband's door and later saw the two accused and the other now at large. The court heard that when Gariba came out of his room, Seidu slashed him with a machete on the head.

As Mr Gariba cried for help, Sanna also slashed his back with a cutlass and entered the complainant's room and took away the 20 million cedis, being that day's proceeds.

Chief Inspector Jebuni said Mr Gariba ran to seek shelter in the house of a neighbour, one Mohammed Ali, who later took him to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital where he was admitted for some days. He said 2.6 million cedis was retrieved from Seidu after he was arrested.

The prosecutor said the police were making efforts to get the third suspect.