Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 7 May 2015

Source: GNA

Unemployed remanded for possessing firearms

An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday remanded one Charles Donkor, unemployed, into police custody for possessing a Rugger pistol with serial number 300-62232 without lawful authority.

Charles pleaded not guilty to the charge but was remanded by the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri to reappear on May 18.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Ernest Acheampong said the accused person is a known land guard who has been terrorising land developers within Amasaman and its environs.

He said on April 30, at about 1500 hours, the Amasaman police received information that land guards were shooting indiscriminately at Akraman near Amasaman.

The Amasaman police patrol team immediately proceeded to the place and met Charles with five others on the land.

The prosecution said on seeing the police, the accused person and his accomplices took to their heels dropping behind a red back pack containing a Rugger Foreign pistol with 13 rounds of ammunitions.

DSP Acheampong told the court that the patrol team chased and arrested Charles but his accomplices escaped.

He said investigations disclosed that the accused person is noted for dealing in weapons and was in September 2014 arrested with three foreign pistols and 33 ammunitions and arraigned.

The investigations also revealed that Charles is wanted by the Amasaman police in a case of possessing AK47 rifles and pump action before an Accra Circuit Court.

The prosecution told the court that in his caution statement, Charles denied ownership of the pistol.