Crime & Punishment of Friday, 2 November 2012

Source: Daily Guide

Forex Bureau Robber Busted

A 26-year-old unemployed man who attempted to rob a Forex bureau at Osu to defray the cost of medical bills at 37 Military Hospital has been grabbed by the Accra Regional Police Command.

Suspect Saliu Amuzu aka Abu was grabbed in the act early yesterday morning around 8:30 a.m. by some residents after his attempt to shoot the attendant failed.

However, the attendant sustained some degrees of injuries and has been rushed to the Police Hospital for treatment.

Narrating the story to DAILY GUIDE, COP Patrick Eden Timbillah, the Accra Regional Police Commander, said the suspect was arrested by some residents and handed over to the police.

The suspect posed as a customer and entered the hall of the forex bureau to exchange money.

Immediately he entered, he locked the door behind him and fired a warning shot in the air, signalling the attendant to surrender.

When the attendant refused to give in to his demands, the suspect attempted to shoot him but the bullet went the wrong direction.

Some residents who heard the gunshots rushed to the scene and managed to arrest the suspect to the Osu Police.

His automatic French pistol which could load up to four rounds of ammunitions was also retrieved from him by the residents.

Upon interrogation, suspect Saliu confessed that he needed money defray the medical bills of his ailing mother at the 37 Military Hospital.

Earlier, police also nabbed one of the four young men who attempted to snatch a taxi from its owner at Adabraka last Monday.

Suspect Albert Ayittey aka Method, 28, released from prison two weeks ago was arrested on October 29, 2012, after his accomplices managed to escape.

COP Timbillah said the complainant in the case was a taxi driver who operated within Accra.

On that fateful day, the taxi driver, using an Opel Vectra taxi cab, picked a female passenger around Adabraka market to Tema Station.

On their way, four men suddenly emerged and stopped him.

They pounced on him and demanded the ignition keys of the vehicle.

As he attempted to resist, one of the men forcibly entered the car and attacked the driver, holding his neck.

In the course of the struggle, the vehicle veered off the road and ran into a stationary vehicle.

Sensing danger and possible arrest, the four grabbed the bag of the female passenger which contained an amount of GH¢200, a mobile phone and some fish and fled.

Luck eluded Albert when he was arrested by onlookers.

He was later handed over to the Adabraka Police for interrogation.

He would be put before court again, COP Timbillah added.