An Accra circuit court on Tuesday remanded Mohammed Kofi Rashid, Mason, into police custody for possession of firearm without lawful authority. The accused pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on July 2.

Prosecuting Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ernest Acheampong told the court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, that the complainant is a police inspector stationed at the Regional Police Headquarters.

He said on March 29, at about 0430, the complainant was in-charge of the Alpha Swat 7 crew on board SUV car No. GP 3889 driven by Lance Corporal Justice Adjei and were returning from patrol at Spintex road and its environs. He said on reaching Adabraka Farisco traffic light, the team spotted three young men on a motor bike with registration number M-14-GW810.

He said the men on seeing the police vehicle sped off in a suspicious manner compelling the personnel to pursue them. In the process, they abandoned the motor bike and a polythene bag they were holding.

The prosecution said when the polythene bag was searched a pump action gun with serial No. ADD 226762, loaded with live cartridges, a screw driver, a steering cutter and a pair of scissors were found.

DSP Acheampong said a report was made to the Regional Criminal Investigation Department for further action but an investigation at the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority on the motorbike disclosed that it was registered in the name of one Peter Goli and this led to his arrest.

“When questioned he stated that about four months ago, between 1000 hours and 0200 hours the accused approached him at the Konkomba market to repair his unregistered faulty motorbike for him and collected his royal motorbike to send his customer to Nungua but did not return until the following day around 1500,” he added.

He said when the accused finally came he was limping and alleged that when he was returning from Nungua at a section of the road, he was knocked down by a private car. The prosecution also said according to the Goli, the accused said the occupant of the car took away the motorbike but he did not report the matter to the police.

DSP Acheampong said based on all this, accused was arrested and upon interrogation, accused admitted having collected the motorbike from Goli but denied knowledge of the pump action gun and items found in the polythene.