Cpl Jacob Lartey, a soldier stationed at the Base Ammunition at Michel Camp, in the Tema Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly attempting to rob two Nigerian residents at Community 18, Lashibi.
The suspect was put in a court presided over by Francis Obiri and charged with conspiracy to commit crime, attempt to commit crime and possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority � after he had sent wrappers of dry leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa � to one of the complainants to incriminate them.
He and his accomplices allegedly subjected the Nigerian nationals who had gone to withdraw money from the bank, to severe beatings and attempted to take their money, but one of them was said to have run quickly and gave the money to someone for safekeeping.
Cpl Jacob Lartey, who has been charged together with three others � Jacob Lartey a lotto receiver, Geofrey Kpapko and Teacher � all at large, pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been remanded while the case has been adjourned to October 6, 2014.
Narrating events leading to the arrest of the suspect, the prosecutor, Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka, told the court that Abiodun Abraham and Emmanuel Nelson Opara are Nigerian residents at Lashibi.
He said the accused person, with Service No 196862, is stationed at Base Ammunition at Michel Camp near Tema, while Lartey, who is his namesake, is a lotto receiver at Mortuary Road near Korle-Bu and the two others are at large.
According to him, on September 14, 2014 the complainants went to Global Access Western Union to withdraw money and afterwards took a taxi home but were chased by the suspects all the way to Nungua Addogonno.
The prosecutor said the suspects stopped the complainants, subjected them to severe beatings and stuck a gun at their heads and so Opara ran to a nearby drinking spot and handed over the money to a salesgirl there for safe keeping.
The police officer said the soldier later sent one of the suspects with some substance suspected to be Cannabis � popularly called wee � to be given to Okpara to incriminate him that he was dealing in narcotics and that was the reason why they (suspects) chased him. He said the complainant got wind of it and called the police but the other suspects managed to escape while the soldier was traced and arrested.
<<Print>>